Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has explained why Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard won’t play for his country this week.

The 25-year-old stayed on for the full 90 minutes against Chelsea on Sunday but Solkbakken claims they would be putting the player’s fitness in danger if they decided to use him in their two Nations League fixtures:

“We knew that there was a risk that Martin would not be ready. He has had a strong desire to take part in the matches, but we cannot risk his health. So I am sure that the boys are ready to give their all in the games that await us and that many will step up in his absence.”

It is believed that Odegaard will continue to build up his match fitness in London in preparation for the Gunners’ next match against Nottingham Forest later this month.

It’s a big boost for Arteta

The last thing that Arsenal need is another player to go down injured and Norway’s decision to allow Odegaard to return to England will be welcomed by manager Mikel Arteta.

After Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were both substituted versus Chelsea due to injury, Arteta was pretty downbeat about the number of injury setbacks that the first-team squad had sustained:

“What I’m praying for is that after the international break, we have the team fully physically equipped, that they are available and that they are fit, because, it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.”

Who else is currently in Arsenal’s treatment room?

In addition to Rice and Saka, Riccardo Calafiori remains on the sidelines with a knee problem he picked up last month against Shakhtar Donetsk. However, there is optimism that he will return to fitness soon.

Kieran Tierney is also close to making his comeback after several months out with a hamstring injury, but Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) is still some way off from playing again. The Japanese international has not played at all this campaign.

Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here