Norway’s national team doctor has said Martin Odegaard will be out for at least three weeks but is unlikely to have a fractured ankle.
Odegaard suffered the injury during Norway’s win over Austria on Tuesday and has flown back to London for tests.
Arsenal said manager Mikel Arteta would give an update on Odegaard’s injury in a press conference on Friday ahead of the crucial north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
However, national team doctor Ola Sand said an MRI scan had been carried out and Ødegaard is unlikely to have a fractured ankle.
“Often with an ankle injury like this you have to rest for at least three weeks. Any less is a bonus and it could have been longer,” Sand told Norwegian outlet โปรโมชั่น ufabet
. “So far, what we have from the MRI in London indicates that there is unlikely to be a fracture in the ankle. “Arsenal
are absolutely certain that there is no fracture but we may have to wait a little bit longer. If there is a fracture then it would mean six weeks out.”
If Odegaard is out for just three weeks it would rule him out for around five games for the Gunners, including the Champions League clash with Atalanta and the meeting with Manchester City on September 22.
Arsenal are without midfielder Declan Rice for this weekend’s game at Spurs through suspension, while new signing Mikel Merino is still recovering from a shoulder injury.
Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt after picking up a calf injury playing for Italy, but they could have Gabriel Jesus back from a groin problem.