Martin Odegaard deals fresh Arsenal blow as Norway manager's comments backfire

Martin Odegaard has been absent since picking up an injury whilst on Norway duty several weeks ago and has missed out on the latest international squad as Arsenal wait on his return

Martin Odegaard has been left out of Norway's upcoming international fixtures as his absence continues.

The playmaker hasn't been seen since the last international break, where he hobbled off with an injury issue which has kept him sidelined. Arsenal have had to make do without their captain and No 10 with no clear timeline given for his return.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken had been hopeful that Odegaard would be back for their Nations League games against Slovenia and Austria as he admitted the team were forming two plans - one that included the playmaker and one without him. Solbakken's squad though has just come out and is minus the Arsenal man.

In a press release announcing the squad Solbakken admitted the 25-year-old was “a long way” from being considered for selection. Norway are also without Manchester City's highly-rated forward Oscar Bobb.

With Odegaard missing Erling Haaland will skipper his side but there is an acceptance that Norway will be worse off. Solbakken said: “The fact that both Oscar (Bobb) and Martin are out at the same time - it would be naive to say that it doesn’t have an impact. Martin is very important to the group and he has been among the best in every single match in recent years.”

Last Tuesday Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted it would likely be “a matter of weeks” before his captain was able to return. The Gunners have fared impressively without Odegaard however, seeing off Tottenham in the north London derby and holding City to a draw.

Speaking immediately after his injury Arteta was hopeful that Odegaard would be missing for weeks - not months. "We are going to miss him," he said. "I don’t want to [give a timeline] because I am not a doctor but yes, it is something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months, but let’s see.”

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Gary Neville, whilst admitting that Odegaard's absence is a blow, claimed that there are worse players for Arsenal to be without. One of them, Declan Rice, was also missing for the win at Tottenham with William Saliba the other key individual

He said on Stick to Football Podcast : “If you were City… he (Odegaard) wouldn’t be the first player I would take out of Arsenal’s team. I would pick Rice or Saliba. I don’t know which one, but I would take Rice or Saliba out of the team before I picked Odegaard.”

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