- Martin Odegaard was photographed limping as he boarded a private jet at Oslo Airport
- Odegaard suffered an ankle injury against Norway, just days before the match between Arsenal and Spurs
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Martin Odegaard was photographed limping as he boarded a private jet at Oslo Airport after being injured on an international flight to Norway.
Odegaard suffered an ankle injury after a sliding tackle by Christoph Baumgartner and was taken off in the 67th minute of Monday’s 2-1 win over Austria.
He appeared to be in mortal fear as he fell to the ground, clutching his ankle, before being helped off the field by the Norwegian medical team.
The 25-year-old playmaker has since been at Oslo airport preparing for his return to Arsenal, travelling in a private jet and using crutches.
Odegaard was helped up the stairs of the Honda HA-420 plane by the pilot, while his girlfriend Helene Spilling followed him with their dog in her arms.
Martin Odegaard was sent off for Norway with an ankle injury in a setback for Arsenal
The midfielder appeared to be in mortal fear after a sliding tackle from Christoph Baumgartner
Erling Haaland was one of the players who consoled Odegaard, who looked in tears
Odegaard looked somber as he approached the plane steps, dressed in a gray sweater and black pants, with a designer backpack on his back.
The 25-year-old, who handed his crutches to the pilot as he jumped up the stairs, did everything he could to avoid putting weight on his left foot.
News of Odegaard’s injury comes as a setback for the Gunners, who face their north London rivals Tottenham in just five days’ time.
“Martin Odegaard’s injury looked bad in the dressing room,” Norway coach Stale Solbakken said after Monday night’s match.
While national team doctor Ola Sand told TV2: ‘He has a small ankle sprain. We’ll see, maybe we’ll use ultrasound to look at it. If we are not sure, an MRI will be done.’
Odegaard’s girlfriend witnessed the incident from the stands and appeared visibly shaken as medical staff helped the Arsenal midfielder limp off the pitch.
The Gunners captain announced a week ago via a social media post that he and Spilling, a dancer from Norway, are expecting a child.
In the Instagram post, captioned “can’t wait to meet you, our little baby,” Spilling’s baby bump was on display as the couple embraced for a photo by the sea.
Depending on the severity of Odegaard’s injury, it could create a huge headache for Mikel Arteta in midfield.
Spilling (above), 28, and Odegaard, 25, announced in August that they were expecting a child
Declan Rice has been suspended for the Spurs match following 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 start with Thomas Partey and Jorginho in midfield against Tottenham Hotspur.
There is a wider injury crisis at the Gunners, who are also bemoaning the strange injury to £42million player Riccardo Calafiori.
The left-back left the Italian side after suffering an ankle injury when Ousmane Dembele accidentally touched him following a foul by Alessandro Bastoni.
Arsenal are fourth in the table with two wins and a draw, while Tottenham have four points after three games.
More to come…