Club Confirm Ødegaard Suffers Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

The club has announced that Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from the national team for their games against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a MCL damage to his left knee in the 2-0 victory over their opponents on Saturday.

Ødegaard went down clutching his knee after clashing with Crysencio Summerville in the first half at the Emirates and tried repeatedly to continue playing after being treated before being substituted by Martín Zubimendi. The manager said post-game that Ødegaard had left the ground with his knee supported and stated his captain was “pessimistic about it.”

Although Declan Rice is scheduled to join with Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in the coming days despite also being replaced against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had pulled out from the Norway squad and it is understood they are hopeful that he will only be out for weeks rather than months. “Martin will undergo further evaluation and treated by our staff during the break, with the goal of a return to action as soon as possible,” Arsenal said in a release.

Ødegaard has experienced an unlucky beginning to the new campaign after dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to leave against Leeds and Nottingham Forest. He will be alongside several teammates on the injury list, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is expected to return from a groin injury after the international break.