Martin Odegaard pictured using crutches as he limps onto private jet after picking up ‘bad ankle injury’ just six days before Arsenal’s north London derby
Martin Odegaard was pictured limping onto a private jet at Oslo airport after sustaining an injury while away on international duty with Norway.
Odegaard suffered an ankle injury following a slide tackle from Christoph Baumgartner and was taken off 67 minutes into their 2-1 win over Austria on Monday.
He appeared to be in agony as he fell to the floor and clutched his ankle before being aided off the pitch by the Norway medical team.
The 25-year-old playmaker has since been pitched at Oslo airport ahead of his return to Arsenal, making his way onto a private jet while using a set of crutches.
Odegaard was helped up the stairs of the Honda HA-420 plane by the pilot as his girlfriend Helene Spilling followed behind holding their dog in her arms.
Martin Odegaard was taken off with an ankle injury on Norway duty in a blow for Arsenal
The midfielder appeared to be in agony after a slide tackle from Christoph Baumgartner
Erling Haaland was among the players to console Odegaard, who looked to be in tears
Odegaard cut a glum figure as he approached the steps of the plane wearing a grey sweatshirt and a pair of black trousers with a designer rucksack on his back.
The 25-year-old, who handed his crutches to the pilot as he hopped up the stairs, was doing everything he could to avoid putting weight on his left foot.
The news of Odegaard’s injury will come as a blow for the Gunners – who go toe-to-toe with their North London rivals Tottenham in just five days time.
‘Martin Odegaard’s injury looked bad in the dressing room,’ said Norway head coach Stale Solbakken after the game on Monday night.
While the national team doctor Ola Sand told TV2: ‘He got a small ankle sprain. We will see, maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI.’
Odegaard’s girlfriend was in the stands to witness the incident and appeared visibly distressed as medical staff helped the Arsenal midfielder limp off the field.
The Gunners captain revealed he and Spilling, a dancer from Norway, are expecting a child in a post on social media a week ago.
Depending on the severity of Odegaard’s injury, it could leave Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with a huge midfield headache
Declan Rice is suspended for the Spurs clash after his controversial red card against Brighton while £33million summer signing Mikel Merino is also injured
The Instagram post – captioned ‘can’t wait to meet you, our little baby’ – showed off Spilling’s bump as the couple embraced for a photograph by the sea.
Depending on the severity of Odegaard’s injury, it could leave Mikel Arteta with a huge midfield headache.
Declan Rice is suspended for the Spurs clash after his controversial red card against Brighton while £33million summer signing Mikel Merino is also injured.
Merino suffered a fractured shoulder in his first training session, meaning Arteta could be left with Thomas Partey and Jorginho to start in midfield against Spurs.
A wider injury crisis is taking shape for the Gunners, who are also bemoaning the freak injury of £42m man Riccardo Calafiori.
Spilling (above), 28, and Odegaard, 25, announced they are expecting a child in August
The left-back left the Italian side after sustaining an ankle blow when Ousmane Dembele accidentally studded him after a challenge from Alessandro Bastoni.
Arsenal sit fourth in the table after two wins and a draw while Tottenham have four points after their three matches.
