Norway manager aims dig at Mikel Arteta in joke about Martin Odegaard injury

Norway manager Stole Solbakken joked he is not expecting a positive phone call from Mikel Arteta after Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard suffered a serious looking injury last night.

The Gunners, already without the suspended Declan Rice and injured summer signing Mikel Merino, now face an anxious wait to find out the severity of the damage their skipper sustained to his ankle ahead of Sunday’s north London derby.

Odegaard had to be helped off the pitch by Norway’s medical staff and was in obvious pain following a robust challenge from Christoph Baumgartner midway through the second half of a Nations League match against Austria.

Arteta now faces a significant headache ahead of a trip to the Tottenham Stadium and his mood is unlikely to be improved by Solbakken’s sarcastic response to Odegaard’s apparent setback.

‘Yes, it looked painful in the locker room too,’ he told TV2. ‘I saw that he was sitting with the physiotherapists around him, but he had no chance to continue.

‘And we know that it was an ankle sprain. Yes, it’s a sprain, and those of us who have played football know with luck it can turn out OK if the ligaments aren’t torn.

‘But I’m not really sure that Arteta will call me tonight to praise me.’

Odegaard’s likely absence will force Arteta into another change which could see the in-form Kai Havertz dropped into the No.10 role.

The former Chelsea forward has started the new season in impression fashion scoring two goals in three games for his club, while he was also on target for his country over the weekend.

Arteta is likely to be boosted by the return to fitness of Gabriel Jesus who suffered a groin injury last month and he could lead the line should Havertz be selected to play in Odegaard’s customary position.

Leandro Trossard represents another option, while youngster Ethan Nwaneri could earn a promotion after he caught his manager’s eye with a series of impressive performances in pre-season.

Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe would both have been options to deputise for Odegaard, but both were allowed to leave in the summer, the former on loan to Porto.

Speaking about the decision to rejoin his former club, Vieira said last week: ‘The idea of returning came from me. I love this club and I’m going to give everything on the pitch,’ Vieira told O Jogo.

‘I’m happy, obviously, it’s my home. I’m looking forward to being at the stadium, playing in front of these fans and doing the best I can for this club this season.

‘It was a chance that, above all, came to me because it was something I already wanted: to play. I had a difficult time in England, an operation, and at this moment I felt that FC Porto was a good opportunity to continue growing and developing.