Norway boss Stale Solbakken has eased fears over Martin Odegaard’s injury, but has suggested the Arsenal star will miss more games this month.
The Gunners captain has been forced to take care of various issues this season having also missed three months of the 2024-25 campaign with a serious ankle injury.
This term, Odegaard has suffered with shoulder, muscle and knee issues which have seen him miss 17 games in total for his club.
A knee problem was again the problem in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford in February with Odegaard missing the following two games against Wigan Athletic and Wolves.
He made a temporary return off the bench in the ultimate 13 minutes of the north London derby against Tottenham.
But Odegaard has been missing again in Arsenal’s last two games – victories over Chelsea and Brighton – and stays a doubt for this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Mansfield Town.
Arsenal are still fighting on 4 fronts this season and after FA Cup motion this weekend they head to Bayer Leverkusen for the primary leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
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Mikel Arteta’s side then host Everton before Leverkusen travel to north London for the return leg. The primary silverware of the season will then be selected 22 March with Arsenal and Manchester City colliding within the Carabao Cup final.
While Solbakken believes Odegaard might be back in time for the season run-in, he comments suggest the Arsenal captain could remain a doubt for the remaining of March.
‘There may be nothing serious about Martin,’ the Norway boss told Viaplay.
‘Crucial thing is that he recovers completely and is sweet for us in the summertime.
‘For those of us who care concerning the World Cup, it’s not a disaster that he’s getting some breaks now.
‘He’s going to rebuild and be crucial for Arsenal in April-May and perhaps late March.’
Arsenal will hope to have Odegaard back as soon as possible with midfield options already being stretched with Mikel Merino out of the season.
Elsewhere, William Saliba picked up a knock that ruled him out of the Brighton game midweek.
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