'Have a reaction' - Arsenal star issues injury update after making international duty decision

Martin Odegaard has been speaking about his fitness after his decision to withdraw from Norway’s Nations League fixtures over this week and next. The Arsenal star has been out for weeks with an ankle injury he suffered during the last international break, but he did make his first start since suffering the injury over the weekend, playing in the draw with Chelsea.

Odegaard suffered a pretty serious ankle ligament injury, and given the recency of his return, it has been decided that he will not compete with Norway during this break, staying in North London to continue strengthening his ankle and to continue rebuilding fitness after a long spell on the sidelines.

“I got through the match at the weekend, but it was a rather abrupt transition from the last nine weeks,” he told TV2, as spotted by SportWitness. “In this kind of process, you don’t just go from being injured to suddenly being completely healthy.

“You tend to have a reaction to what happens, and then it’s about how you react to it. Together with the NFF’s medical team, we’ve looked at it and agreed that it’s better for me to go back and make a full recovery.” Asked if he is expecting to play in Arsenal’s next game, against Nottingham Forest on November 23, the midfielder responded: “Of course I hope so. I’m going back now and will have further follow-up, and then we’ll see until next week when it picks up again.”

Odegaard is vital to Arsenal’s Premier League title bid, and while the Gunners have already fallen nine points behind leaders Liverpool, there is still plenty of time to get back in the race. Arsenal need their skipper, and it will be music to the ears of fans to hear there is no risk of Odegaard picking up another injury during international duty.

Odegaard makes his decision

Odegaard has revealed that the decision to withdraw from international duty was his decision, choosing to take care of his body, something that is becoming increasingly common with Nations League fixtures.

“No, we have had an open and nice discussion,” Odegaard said when asked if there were any issues with his withdrawal. “I have been talking to Ståle (Solbakken) ever since I was injured, and of course more intensively in recent weeks. Both have had a great desire to make it happen, and that is also the reason why I am in Norway. This is not about what Arsenal has said, or what Ståle has said. It’s about what my situation is.

“Yes [it’s my choice], but in consultation with the medical team here [in Norway]. This is something we agree on, but ultimately it is me who has made the choice based on what I know the body needs.”

England lost seven players themselves heading into this international break, and there seems to be a trend of players not taking the Nations League particularly serious, appearing less willing to risk their bodies and risk their participation at club level to compete in the competition, even if it can provide a path to qualification for nations.