Ødegaard Withdrawn After MCL Injury, Arsenal Assess

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from Norway’s squad after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee in the 2-0 win over West Ham and will remain at Arsenal for assessment and treatment during the October international break. The knock — a knee‑to‑knee clash with Crysencio Summerville — continues an injury-hit start to his season; it was his third consecutive Premier League start in which he was forced off early after earlier shoulder problems. Medical staff have not confirmed the injury’s full severity, with recovery projections ranging from a few weeks for a minor MCL issue to a month or more for a moderate/serious injury, putting Arsenal’s Oct. 18 trip to Fulham and the Champions League visit to Atlético Madrid in doubt. Ødegaard now joins Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Piero Hincapié in the club’s treatment room, while Declan Rice, who suffered a back problem against West Ham, is still expected to join England. Managers Mikel Arteta and Norway boss Ståle Solbakken have stressed the need to await specialist assessments and prepare alternative options for upcoming fixtures.