Arsenal give Martin Odegaard injury update after West Ham blow as decision made

Arsenal have given an update on Martin Odegaard's injury (Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Arsenal have confirmed that Martin Odegaard has withdrawn from international duty with Norway after suffering a knee injury in the 2-0 win against West Ham United.

A club statement released on Sunday afternoon read: "Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday’s win over West Ham United.

"Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible."

It is perhaps no surprise this decision has been taken following Mikel Arteta's far from positive update after the game. "I think he [Odegaard] had a clash knee-to-knee, and immediately he was uncomfortable," Arteta admitted during his post-match press conference.

"I just spoke to him, he's not positive about it, he's got a brace on, we'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very unlucky with that either."

Arteta also lost Declan Rice, who scored the opener, to a back injury with his update on the midfielder also not too promising.

On Rice's withdrawal, he said: "Well, he's not alright because he asked me to come off, so that's a shame. So, he had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we'll have to assess him and see how he is."

However, he is still expected to join up with England for a friendly against Wales and World Cup qualifier against Latvia which could be seen as a mixed update.

Being able to represent his country over the next two weeks almost certainly means the issue is not serious, but it is likely that Arteta would have preferred him remaining at London Colney to fully rest and recover.

Alongside Rice, Bukayo Saka has been called up but Noni Madueke is missing with a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for at least a few more weeks. Kai Havertz is another Gunners forward currently missing after he underwent a minor procedure in August.

Arsenal's next clash comes away at Fulham with the chance to increase the gap over Liverpool up to four points before they play Manchester United the following day.