Arsenal star Martin Odegaard is “frustrated and disappointed” with the injury timeline set
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been left “frustrated and depressed” by his latest injury, according to Norway manager Stale Solbakken.
Odegaard is not happy with the injury timeline set
A knee problem has seen midfielder Odegaard sidelined since the win over Tottenham on February 22, forcing him to miss the Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta insisted during the Wembley match that the club will not risk rushing Odegaard back as soon as he looks to increase his rehabilitation.
Odegaard also missed the World Cup qualifiers in October and November, including the 4-1 away win against Italy as Norway secured top spot in Group I with a perfect record from their eight matches.
Solbakken will also be without Odegaard for the friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland.
“He’s very frustrated and angry. He hasn’t played since we beat Moldova 11-1 (in September). It’s his last international game,” Solbakken told Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.
“He was not on the field against Israel, Estonia or Italy. It is clear that it hurts.”
Arsenal’s £240,000-a-week star is suffering from chronic injury with a return timetable raising alarm bells
The Gunners have “reason to worry”.
Solbakken dismissed the possibility that Norway’s captain Odegaard would leave to join the camp in Amsterdam or next week’s match against Switzerland in Olso.
“Now there are three weeks left before Arsenal play again, or two and a half weeks. I think it would be a goal for Martin to be in the team (of his team) at that time. It is possible,” said Solbakken.
“There is no reason for him to leave now, he must train (with Arsenal).
“If he wants to use a day off to come here, he is allowed to do that, but it’s not what we planned.”
Odegaard is one of Arsenal’s top earners, earning £240,000-a-week in North London.
|
Level |
The player |
Total salary per week |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Look at Saka |
£300,000 |
|
2 |
Kai Havertz |
£280,000 |
|
3 |
Jesus Gabriel |
£265,000 |
|
=4 |
Declan Rice |
£240,000 |
|
=4 |
Martin Odegaard |
£240,000 |
|
6 |
Viktor Gyokeres |
£200,000 |
|
7 |
William Saliba |
£190,000 |
|
=8 |
Gabriel Martinelli |
£180,000 |
|
=8 |
Eberechi Eze |
£180,000 |
|
=10 |
Ben White |
£150,000 |
|
=10 |
Noni Madueke |
£150,000 |
|
=10 |
Gabriel Magalhaes |
£150,000 |
Many Arsenal stars are retiring from international duty
Arsenal will be looking to regroup after the international break, following a lackluster display in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by City, particularly in the second half when Nico O’Reilly scored twice in the space of four minutes to put the game away from Arteta’s side.
The Gunners – who sit nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League, having played an extra game – face Southampton in the FA Cup final on April 4 before the Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Sporting Lisbon three days later.
Defenders Gabriel (knee), William Saliba (ankle) and Jurrien Timber (ankle) are all ruled out of international duty, as is England midfielder Eberechi Eze, who has a calf problem, while striker Leandro Trossard was not called up by Belgium with a groin problem.
Arsenal suffered another injury blow that was not seen during the cup final, requiring immediate treatment
The Gunners have bigger fish to fry but now face an anxious wait.
