Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has withdrawn from the Norway squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan. Despite making his first start since August in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, Odegaard has decided to return to London to continue his rehabilitation.
Odegaard flew to Oslo to join the Norway squad but ultimately concluded, after discussions with the medical staff, that his condition was not sufficient to participate in the matches. The 25-year-old midfielder admitted that after nine weeks without playing football, it was natural not to be at 100%. He emphasized the importance of listening to his body and completing the rehabilitation process to ensure his ankle fully recovers. He said,
“After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches. I’ve been through a long training period and when you haven’t practiced football in the last nine weeks, it’s natural not to be 100 per cent yet. I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape.”
Norway team doctor Ola Sand described Odegaard’s ankle injury as “complicated” and stated that he requires more time to regain match fitness. National team manager Stale Solbakken acknowledged the risk of Odegaard’s participation and stressed the importance of prioritizing the player’s health. Solbakken said,
“We knew that there was a risk that Martin would not be ready. He has had a strong desire to take part in the matches, but we cannot risk his health.”
Odegaard expressed his disappointment at missing the international matches, emphasizing his love for playing for Norway. Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture is a home game against Nottingham Forest on November 23rd, giving Odegaard time to recover before returning to club action.
