Arsenal fans will hope for no injuries ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester City and an update on Martin Odegaard has now emerged in Norway.
The international break is coming to an end and the attention will soon turn back to the Premier League.
All eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal travel to take on Manchester City.
This game will go some way towards deciding the destination of the Premier League title with Arsenal one point ahead of City.
Pep Guardiola will once again take on his former protege Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will be looking to do the double over this all-conquering City side.
Arsenal will need to be at their very best and Arteta really can’t afford to have key players coming back from international duty with injuries.
There may have been concerns about Martin Odegaard though as the Arsenal captain was substituted on Norway duty.
Martin Odegaard injury update
Odegaard was replaced with 11 minutes to play as Norway drew 1-1 with Slovakia.
Patrick Berg came on to take Odegaard’s place in midfield and the Norway captain being taken off may have left some worried.
Former Norway international and current pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft has now taken to social media to calm any fears.
Fjortoft stated that there were ‘no injuries’ for Odegaard as he was substituted, with Berg just coming on for a cameo appearance late on.
If there is any player Arsenal really can’t afford to miss right now, it’s probably Odegaard.
Yes, the likes of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are just as important but Odegaard’s leadership alongside his creativity and technical ability make him indispensable.
Odegaard has proven himself to be a fine captain for Arsenal and his guile around the penalty area makes this Arsenal team tick.
Arteta needs Odegaard available this weekend and hearing that his substitution was nothing injury-related will be a huge relief.
Odegaard will now make the journey back to London and look to make sure that he is fully ready to go for such a huge game on Sunday.
Odegaard will be gearing up to try and take down his friend and international teammate Erling Haaland.
The City striker was also substituted against Slovakia but also avoided injury issues, meaning the two Norwegian stars will be going head-to-head.
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