Concerning image of Martin Odegaard boarding flight back to Arsenal emerges after injury

Arsenal fans have been sent into a fearful frenzy after a picture of Martin Odegaard emerges following his injury on Monday night. The Gunners skipper was forced off during Norway’s win over Austria, picking up an ankle injury.

Odegaard appeared to twist his ankle in pretty severe fashion, and team doctor Ola Sand has since said: “He got a small ankle sprain. We will see, maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow." Arsenal will be hoping the prediction of a sprain proves correct, given the most serious sprain is likely to result in a maximum of 12 weeks on the sideline, while a high ankle tear or rupture potentially requiring surgery.

Norway’s national team will have scanned Odegaard’s ankle to check the damage before handing him over to Arsenal’s medical team, a handover that is now in process. Odegaard was pictured boarding a private plane as he returns to North London.

Concerningly, he was pictures on crutches and without a shoe on his injured left foot. Arsenal fans will be feeling very fearful of the severity of Odegaard’s injury, which is not likely to be confirmed until Mikel Arteta meets with the media later this week.

To add some comfort, though, it is recommended that shoes are not worn on feet with very recent injuries. That’s because swelling is common during air travel due to a number of factors, and that could make it difficult to remove the shoe later on. Though, it’s also likely that Odegaard’s ankle is already pretty swollen following his injury and the recency of it.

Arsenal fans will be praying their captain will return within the next few weeks amid a growing injury list, but they will already know that their skipper will all-but certainly miss this weekend’s North London derby with Tottenham.