Martin Odegaard: Arsenal sent message by Norway boss Stale Solbakken over 'bad' injury

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken admitted Martin Odegaard ’s injury “looked bad”, as Arsenal wait to learn the severity of the issue.

The Gunners captain had to be helped from the pitch midway through the second-half of his country’s Nations League match against Austria, after his ankle twisted awkwardly in the pitch as he was challenged for the ball.

It is a major scare for Arsenal ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. Mikel Arteta ’s side travel to face Tottenham this weekend, before a Champions League trip to Atalanta is followed by a showdown at the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City.

What part Odegaard plays in those matches remains to be seen, but his absence against Spurs would be hugely significant, with Arsenal already without the likes of Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.

“It looked bad in the dressing room as well,” Solbakken told TV 2.

“I saw he was sitting with the physiotherapists around him but he had no chance to continue and we know it was an ankle sprain.

“Yes, it’s a sprain, and as those of us who had played football know, with luck it can turn out OK if the ligaments aren’t torn.

“I’m not really sure that (Mikel) Arteta will call me tonight to praise me.”

Team doctor Ola Sand confirmed that further tests will take place on Tuesday.

He said after the match: “He got a small ankle sprain. We will see throughout the evening and tomorrow what happens next and what we will do about it.

“Ankle sprains are difficult to deal with straight away, so we almost have to see how things go forward.

"We will examine him when we are back at the hotel. Maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow."

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