Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will not feature for Norway in their upcoming Nations League matches as he continues his recovery back to full fitness.
The 25-year-old missed 12 matches after suffering ankle ligament damage while away with the national team in September.
He returned to feature against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday before playing the full game — and laying on an assist — against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Odegaard was initially omitted from the squad for the games against Slovenia on November 14 and Kazakhstan three days later with Norway manager Stale Solbakken conscious of not pushing his captain too far, too soon.
He travelled to join up with team-mates but following assessment from Norway’s medical team the decision has been made that he won’t play any part.
“After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately come to the conclusion that the situation is not good enough to play these games,” Odegaard said.
“I’ve been through a long training period and when you haven’t practiced football in the last nine weeks, it’s natural not to be 100 percent yet. I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape.
Odegaard won’t feature for Norway during the international break (Terje Pedersen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
“The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches, and if I hadn’t played the match on Sunday, it would have been out of the question to participate for Norway anyway. But it’s a bad feeling to lose these games, I love playing for Norway and with this team. But I have great faith in the boys and wish them the best of luck – there are still good opportunities to win the group.”
Norway sit top of Nations League League B Group 3 with seven points from their four games so far.
Odegaard, who has become one of Arsenal’s most important players since joining from Real Madrid in 2021, has played only five times for his club this season.
Arsenal have missed his creativity and leadership during his absence with the draw at Chelsea on Sunday leaving them nine points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta was hugely impressed with his skipper’s performance at Stamford Bridge after such a long period out.
“I don’t know another player that is capable of (his display) after six weeks out,” he said. “He had a day-and-a-half to be able to do that. Just how physically and mentally connected he was with the team it was unbelievable.”
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(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
