Arsenal confirm Odegaard ligament injury

The Arsenal captain has been pulled out of Norway's squad for the international window.

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard shakes hands with manager Mikel Arteta as he leaves the West Ham game with an injury. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire. 

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches after suffering a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee in Saturday's win over West Ham.

Odegaard will remain in London and miss the internationals against Israel and New Zealand 

"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," an Arsenal statement read. 

Odegaard clashed knees with a West Ham player in a tackle in the first half of Saturday's win and although the Norwegian tried to continue he was eventually replaced by Martin Zubimendi after 30 minutes.

"He was wearing a brace," manager Mikel Arteta said after the game. "We'll have to wait and see the extent of the injury. We'll find solutions but obviously he's our captain and brings a different dimension with the things he can do."

 In his last three Premier League starts, Odegaard has failed to reach halftime, having injured his shoulder against Leeds United in August and suffering a recurrence of that injury against Nottingham Forest last month.

There was a further worry for Arteta on his 300th game in charge with Declan Rice, scorer of the opening goal, also having to go off in the second half with a back niggle.

Reuters