Arsenal already dealt first international break injury scare as £30m star flies home

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of international duty for Norway during the international break, just days after making his long-awaited return from injury for the Gunners against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

The 25-year-old had picked up an ankle injury while with Norway earlier this season and had missed seven of Arsenal's Premier League fixtures before returning to action at Stamford Bridge. Odegaard played 90 minutes and grabbed an assist against the Blues but has 'listened to my body' in deciding not to represent his country this month.

The midfielder had flown to Oslo to join the Norway national squad for the Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan but will now return to London to continue his rehabilitation work.

Speaking via the official Norwegian Football Association website, Odegaard 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.

“The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches, and if I hadn’t played on Sunday, it would have been out of the question to participate anyway. It’s a very bad feeling to lose these games, I love playing for Norway and with this team.”

Norway manager Stale Solbakken admitted the team knew that "there was a risk" Odegaard wouldn't be able to play this month and added that the nation "cannot risk his health". Arsenal will hope that the midfielder is fit enough to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday, November 23.

Arteta's side travel to The City Ground to face a Forest side that have claimed victories over Liverpool, Crystal Palace and West Ham this season.

Speaking about Odegaard after the point against Chelsea, Arteta said: “I don’t know another player that is capable of [playing 90 minutes to that standard] after six weeks out. He had a day and a half to be able to do that. Just how physically and mentally connected he was with the team, it was unbelievable."