The Standard reported that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard recovered from an ankle injury scare in time to start for Norway against Wales on Thursday. The concern followed a heavy challenge from Bernardo Silva in the defeat by Portugal, after which Odegaard was seen limping and said the tackle “doesn't belong on a football field”.
Norway said he missed training on Tuesday because of pain, with the medical staff in continuous contact with Arsenal, but later updates from Stale Solbakken, Brede Hangeland and team doctor Ola Sand were more positive after a scan and X-ray showed no serious damage. Solbakken was still unsure whether Odegaard would be available until he was eventually cleared to start in Cardiff.
For Arsenal, the immediate consequence is simply that their captain did not appear to be facing a major lay-off from this latest knock. The report also noted he has made four goals in eight appearances across all competitions this season, underlining why his fitness matters so much to Mikel Arteta.
What remains unconfirmed
- Whether Odegaard will be fully clear of symptoms after the Wales match.
- How Arsenal will manage his workload after the international window.