Norway secured a 2-1 victory over Austria in the Nations League on Monday, but the triumph came at a cost as Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury. The match, held at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, saw Norway edge Austria with goals from Felix Horn Myhre and a last-minute winner from Erling Haaland. However, the focus quickly shifted to Odegaard’s injury, casting a shadow over the team’s win.
The incident occurred in the second half when Odegaard, Norway’s midfield talisman, collided with Austrian player Christoph Baumgartner. After receiving several minutes of treatment on the field, Odegaard was unable to continue and was helped off the pitch, raising concerns about his fitness in the upcoming weeks.
Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken, spoke to Norwegian TV 2 about the severity of the injury, expressing concern for the 25-year-old midfielder. “Martin Odegaard’s injury looked bad in the dressing room as well. I saw he was sitting with the physiotherapists around him, but he had no chance to continue, and we know it was an ankle sprain,” Solbakken stated.
The coach, who once played professional football, also noted the uncertainty that comes with ankle injuries. “Yes, it’s a sprain, and as those of us who have played football know, with luck it can turn out okay if the ligaments aren’t torn,” he added.
Norway’s team doctor, Ola Sand, later provided a more detailed update on Odegaard’s condition, attempting to reassure fans that the injury, though concerning, might not be as serious as first feared. “Martin is doing quite well now. He got a small ankle sprain. We will see throughout the evening and tomorrow what happens next and what we will do about it,” Sand told reporters.
He further explained that more assessments would be made in the coming hours. “Ankle sprains are difficult to deal with straight away, so we almost have to see how things go forward. We will examine him when we are back at the hotel. Maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow.”
The news comes as a major concern for Arsenal fans, with Odegaard being a key figure in their early Premier League campaign. Odegaard has consistently played an essential role for both club and country, and any potential layoff could impact Arsenal’s momentum as well as Norway’s chances in the Nations League.
Norway is currently second in their Nations League group, League B Group 3, tied on four points with Slovenia. They are set to face Slovenia on October 10, and while the victory over Austria puts them in a strong position, the absence of their captain could make the next match significantly more challenging.
Erling Haaland’s last-minute goal provided Norway with the win, but the post-match atmosphere was subdued, with much of the discussion centering around Odegaard’s fitness. Haaland himself expressed support for his teammate but also focused on the importance of the victory.
“It was a tough match, but we fought until the end and got the result we needed. We all hope Martin will recover soon; he’s a crucial part of our team,” Haaland said in a brief post-match interview.
As Norway and Arsenal await further tests, the hope is that Odegaard’s injury is less severe than feared. Both sides will be eagerly monitoring his recovery, with the midfielder’s return being vital for their respective goals in the weeks ahead.
