Norway rule Arsenal’s Odegaard out of Nations League

Martin Odegaard will miss Norway’s crucial Nations League matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan as he continues his recovery from a serious ankle injury.

The Arsenal captain, omitted from Norway’s initial squad, travelled to Oslo for an assessment by the national team’s medical staff after playing 90 minutes in both Arsenal’s recent fixtures against Inter Milan and Chelsea.

However, it has been decided that the midfielder is not yet ready to return to international action.

Odegaard, who also leads Norway, has emphasised that his body needs more time to regain full fitness after being sidelined for nine weeks.

“After discussions with the medical staff, we concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches,” he said. “I’ve undergone a long training period, and it’s natural that my body isn’t at 100 percent yet. I need to listen to my body and finish this rehabilitation process to get my foot in top condition.”

The injury, sustained during Norway’s match against Austria in September, caused significant ligament damage and forced Odegaard to miss two months of action, including 12 matches for Arsenal.

The 25-year-old’s participation in last Sunday’s Premier League draw against Chelsea was his first full league game since his comeback, but the Norwegian star insists that playing for Arsenal had no bearing on the national team’s decision to leave him out.

“It’s frustrating to miss these games,” Odegaard admitted. “I love representing Norway and playing with this team, but I trust the boys to perform and win the group in my absence.”

Norway currently lead Group B3 in the Nations League and are in a strong position to achieve promotion, but manager Stale Solbakken acknowledges the significant loss of his captain.

“We knew there was a chance Martin would not be ready,” Solbakken said. “His health must come first. He was eager to play, but we cannot take unnecessary risks. The team is prepared to step up and deliver in his absence.”

Norway’s medical team confirmed that the decision prioritises Odegaard’s long-term fitness.

National team doctor Ola Sand described the injury as “complicated”, stating that Odegaard needs to focus on rehabilitation in London rather than rushing a return to competitive football.

Odegaard’s absence is undoubtedly a setback for Norway, but Solbakken remains optimistic about his squad’s capability to deliver as they prepare for decisive Nations League clashes against Slovenia on Thursday and Kazakhstan on Sunday, with victories in both matches guaranteeing their promotion.