KEY POINTS

  • Martin Odegaard recently missed Arsenal's 3-0 win in the league
  • The Norwegian international has sustained a calf injury
  • The international break is on now 

Norway national team head coach Stale Solbakken has revealed that Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is "not doing well" after sustaining a calf injury.

Odegaard missed Arsenal's latest 3-0 win against Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday due to a calf issue.

European clubs will return to action only next month after the international break. Norway are currently competing in the group stage of the 2022-23 Nations League. They are scheduled to take on Slovenia on Saturday and Serbia on Tuesday. An injured Odegaard is still part of the squad for those games.

The Norway boss said he and his support staff have been in regular contact with their Arsenal counterparts over Odegaard's fitness. A final decision about the young midfielder's chances of playing against Slovenia and Serbia is yet to be taken.

"We are in regular dialogue with him and [Mikel] Arteta and Arsenal's health sector, as it is called in Danish. Nothing has been decided there, so there is still hope," ' Solbakken said in an interview.

Odegaard, the captain of the Norway national team, will remain a part of the squad even if he is not declared fit over the next seven days.

"He's not doing well now. Now it's a matter of final deciding whether he can be in both or one game. We'll certainly see him in Norway, either as a player or a 'fourth coach'. It means a lot to have him," added Solbakken.

Odegaard reportedly picked up his injury during a training session. Fabio Vieira eventually replaced him when the Arsenal side played against Brentford.

Martin Odegaard (centre) celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Burnley
Martin Odegaard (centre) celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Burnley AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

When reporters asked Arteta about the injury scenario of Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko ahead of the kick-off Sunday, the Spanish boss replied, "I don't know [when they will return]. We have the international break right now so that will give us a break. They are two different injuries and things but we don't know yet."

With 18 points in seven games, Arsenal are currently at the top of the 2022-23 Premier League table. They have a point more than second-placed Manchester City and third-placed Tottenham.

One of the factors behind Arsenal's great start to the campaign is Odegaard's form as the Norwegian forward has netted three goals in six league games.