National team captain Martin Ødegaard will not be ready for the international matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan. This is confirmed by the Norwegian Football Association in a press release. The Norwegian Arsenal star played his first 90 minutes in weeks against Chelsea on Sunday. – I see some people think it looks stupid when he played the whole match for Arsenal, but it’s quite normal that you get a reaction after a long injury period. Jumping straight into it is a tremendous strain on the body, says news expert Kristoffer Løkberg. – Should he have been picked earlier? – Mikel Arteta (Arsenal coach) knew that there was going to be a break of just over two weeks, and that he could therefore push through a reaction. When the next game is for Arsenal, and not Norway, it does not matter that he is not ready on Wednesday. – It was probably a calculated risk on Arteta’s part. That’s how cynical he is and top football, Løkberg believes. Ødegaard arrived in Oslo on Monday, but is traveling back to London to receive follow-up on Arsenal’s medical equipment. – I’ve been through a long training period, and when you haven’t practiced football in the last nine weeks, it’s natural not to be 100 percent yet. I have to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good condition, says Ødegaard and adds: – It is a very bad feeling to lose these matches, I love playing for Norway and with this team. Leo Skiri Østigård thinks it’s sad that the captain has to stand over the games. – Martin always wants to play for Norway, so that is not what we should ask questions about. It is a shame for us and a shame for him. Then we can all hope that he recovers as soon as possible, says Østigård to news. Ødegaard has been out of action since injuring his ankle in September against Austria.
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– Arteta is so cynical – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
