Club Confirm Ødegaard Suffers Medial Collateral Ligament Injury

The club has announced that Martin Ødegaard has pulled out from Norway’s squad for their games against Israel and New Zealand after suffering a MCL damage to his knee in the win over West Ham on Saturday.

Ødegaard collapsed holding his knee after clashing with Crysencio Summerville in the first half at the Emirates and twice attempted to carry on 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 “not positive about it.”

But while Declan Rice is scheduled to join with Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in the coming days despite also being substituted against West Ham with a back problem, Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that Ødegaard had pulled out from the Norway squad and it is believed they are optimistic that he will only be sidelined briefly rather than a long period. “Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team during the international window, with the goal of a comeback as soon as possible,” the club said in a release.

Ødegaard has endured an injury-hit start to the season after struggling with a shoulder problem that caused him to leave against Leeds and Nottingham Forest. He will join several teammates on the sidelines, while the new signing Piero Hincapié is expected to return from a groin issue after the international break.