Odegaard’s Recovery Journey and Impact on Norway’s World Cup Aspirations

Martin Odegaard has been sidelined since sustaining medial ligament damage in his left knee during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over West Ham on October 4. The injury occurred midway through the first half following a collision with winger Crysencio Summerville, forcing the Norwegian captain to exit the match after just 30 minutes.

At the time of the incident, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the seriousness of the injury, stating: “We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or another. The shoulder issues twice and then this injury. We’ll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we’ll find solutions. But obviously, he’s our captain and a player who provides us with a completely different dimension in attack.”

Initial assessments indicated a potential six-week recovery period, and Arsenal had hoped to have Odegaard back for the upcoming north London derby against Tottenham later this month. However, recent comments from Norway’s manager, Ståle Solbakken, have raised concerns regarding that timeline.

Speaking before Norway’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Italy, Solbakken remarked, “It is steady. It is progressing in a steady direction, but he is still some distance away.”

Although unfit to play, Odegaard has joined the national squad in a non-playing capacity, supporting his teammates as Norway aims for their first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades. Solbakken confirmed that the Arsenal star would continue his rehabilitation under Norway’s medical team, initially in Oslo and later in Milan, where the squad will face Italy.

“He will fly into Oslo after his rehab on Thursday,” he explained. “Then he will continue his rehabilitation with us and will be with us from Thursday afternoon. I’m unsure when the flight departs, but he will stay with us until we head to Milan.”

In his own words, Odegaard has been diligently working towards regaining full fitness: “The rehab is going well. I had a few days off after the West Ham game to rest my knee, so I returned to Norway. However, I’ve been back for a week now, working daily to maintain my fitness while also healing the injury. It’s been busy days, involving hard work and long hours in recovery, but I feel that it’s going well so far.”

The Arsenal captain also shared insights into the innovative techniques he is employing to expedite his recovery.

“I’m making good progress,” he stated. “I’ve begun moving around more and have been using the anti-gravity machine to run this week. While it’s hard work, it’s encouraging to see my advancement, which further motivates me.”

At Arsenal’s London Colney training facility, several anti-gravity treadmills allow players to train without putting full strain on injured joints. These machines utilize a pressurized air chamber to reduce body weight incrementally, enabling athletes to move pain-free while rebuilding strength and balance.

As Arsenal closely monitors their captain’s recovery, Norway is striving to secure qualification for their first World Cup since 1998. A victory against Estonia on Thursday could clinch their spot in next summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, provided Italy drops points against Moldova. Norway currently boasts an impressive +26 goal difference, significantly outpacing Italy’s +10, and has the advantage in their head-to-head record, having previously defeated the Azzurri 3-0 in Oslo earlier this year.