Gunners captain Odegaard is a huge doubt for Sunday’s North London derby with reports in Norway even suggesting he could be out for a MONTH. The scare was made even worse when Odegaard was pictured boarding a private plane while on crutches which has alarmed Arsenal fans.
Arsenal will be hoping the lay-off is much shorter and will assess him in the next few days to discover the damage to his ankle suffered while playing for Norway against Austria on Monday night. Odegaard was able to walk off the pitch, his foot was not in a protective boot and they will scan him to assess the damage suffered in a challenge after Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner.
But Norway boss Ståle Solbakken expressed fears to Norwegian outlet VG that his captain could be out until the next international break with their next match against Slovenia on October 10.
That would be a huge blow for Arsenal who face three huge games in a week, starting with Tottenham on Sunday, their first Champions League game of the season at Atalanta and then the clash at Manchester City on Sunday week.
Arsenal have stressed they will wait on the scan results but they are also without new signing Mikel Merino who is out for between six to eight weeks with a fractured shoulder. Declan Rice is out through suspension after being sent off last month against Brighton for two yellow cards to leave Arsenal under strength for one of their biggest games of the season.
Arsenal will also have to play the North London derby in unfamiliar colours because of a kit clash. The Premier League and PGMOL have told Arsenal they cannot wear their traditional red home kit because there is too much white on the back of the shirt and that will clash with Tottenham.
Martin Odegaard picked up an ankle injury with Norway (
Image:
Getty Images)
What starting XI should Mikel Arteta name vs Spurs? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Arsenal, who will now wear black, did ask the Premier League to wear their red shirt - but the request was refused and it has emerged the club were warned in the summer about the potential kit clash. The kits are ordered well in advance so production was underway well before the issue popped up in the summer and Arsenal decided to press ahead anyway.
It will be the first time in recent seasons either team has had to change colours but now Tottenham will have to wear their away kit in the reverse fixture at the Emirates. Arsenal are also unlikely to be impressed with the appointment of referee Jarred Gillett for the North London derby.
Gillett left Arsenal fans incensed after failing to send off Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera for grabbing Kai Havertz around the throat on the opening weekend of the season.
The Aussie referee also took no action against Mosquera after a bizarre incident involving Gabriel Jesus when the Colombian grabbed the Arsenal striker on the bum and allegedly put a finger up his backside. Instead, Jesus was booked for his reaction.
0 Comments