While the international break has momentarily halted the Premier League, Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta will likely be closely monitoring his players as they join their respective national teams.
Odegaard, who missed out on playing in Euro 2024 after Norway failed to qualify, was anticipated to participate in the Nations League matches against Kazakhstan and Austria during this September’s international break.
However, Solbakken’s recent comments have raised concerns about the Arsenal captain’s fitness after he took a hit in the Gunners’ last Premier League match.
When questioned by reporters about whether Odegaard’s potential injury stemmed from the Brighton game, Solbakken mentioned, “I think it’s another bang,” hinting at a knock the player may have received.
He then added, “I was about to say, I think it is something other than the bang, so to speak,” which further suggests there could be a more complex underlying issue.
At this point, it is uncertain whether Odegaard will recover in time to feature in Norway’s upcoming Nations League fixture against Kazakhstan on Friday. Arsenal supporters are also anxious, hoping that their captain will be fit and ready for the crucial North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Arteta, meanwhile, is facing a potential shortage of options in midfield. Declan Rice, a key player for the team, was controversially sent off with a red card against Brighton, ruling him out for one match, which includes the pivotal clash with Spurs.
In addition to Rice’s suspension, Arsenal’s midfield depth was further reduced after Fabio Vieira secured a loan move to Porto at the end of the summer transfer window.
Should Odegaard be ruled out due to injury, Arteta will be left with only three senior midfielders to select from, a number that could drop to two depending on Odegaard’s fitness.
Despite fans clamoring to see more of veteran midfielder Jorginho, Thomas Partey has been a regular feature in Arteta’s squad this season and could be relied upon more heavily if Odegaard is unable to play.
Overall, the injury concerns surrounding Odegaard and the suspension of Declan Rice present a challenging situation for Arteta as he prepares for the upcoming match against Tottenham, a critical fixture that could significantly impact Arsenal’s campaign.
