“Massive blow” – Journalist drops worrying Martin Odegaard injury update

Martin Odegaard was forced off against Austria after suffering an ankle injury.

The Norway midfielder withdrew from Monday night’s Nations League game after 67 minutes after twisting his ankle.

The Arsenal playmaker is now ruled out of Sunday’s North London Derby and will be joined on the sidelines by the suspended Declan Rice following the Englishman’s red card against Brighton last time out.

Martin Odegaard injury: Worrying update for Arsenal midfielder

Concerns over Odegaard’s recent injury are growing, and according to journalist Martin Hardy, the 25-year-old’s setback could be even worse than originally feared.

“Yeah it’s an absolutely massive blow and even the noises that are trying to be positive suggest that it’s ligament damage,” Hardy said on the Sky Sports Back Pages Podcast, as quoted by TBR Football.

“If it’s any form of ligament damage that’s him out of the next couple of games, never mind a big game so early in the season on Sunday.

“You’ve lost two-thirds of the midfield that is so important to Mikel Arteta. It may depend on the flipside whether Dominic Solanke is fit. The game may be dependant on which players either team can get out.”

Odegaard’s exclusion from Mikel Arteta’s squad to face bitter-rivals Spurs will be a huge setback for the Spaniard who is looking to bounce back with a win following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Brighton.

With both Odegaard and Rice missing, Arteta must find a way to set up his midfield without losing balance and control.

Jorginho and Thomas Partey are likely to start at the base of the midfield with Kai Havertz possibly dropping back to fill in for the injury-struck Odegaard.

Sunday’s blockbuster clash, which is scheduled to kick-off at 2 p.m. (UK time), will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.