Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been described as "very frustrated and grumpy" by Norway manager Stale Solbakken, following a knee injury that has kept the midfielder out of action since late February.
Injury Sidelines Odegaard Since Tottenham Win
The knee problem has seen Odegaard sidelined since Arsenal's victory over Tottenham on February 22. This setback has forced him to miss crucial fixtures, including the Champions League round-of-16 win against Bayer Leverkusen and the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley.
Arteta's Cautious Approach to Recovery
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta emphasised in the lead-up to the Carabao Cup final that the club would not take any risks with Odegaard's recovery, opting for a careful rehabilitation process rather than rushing him back prematurely.
International Absences Pile Up
Odegaard also missed World Cup qualifiers in October and November, including Norway's impressive 4-1 away win over Italy. Norway secured top spot in Group I with a perfect record from their eight fixtures during that period.
Solbakken confirmed that Odegaard will again be absent for Norway's upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland. "He is very frustrated and grumpy. He has not been involved since we beat Moldova 11-1 in September. It is his last international match," Solbakken told Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.
The Norway manager added, "He was not on the field against Israel, Estonia or Italy. It is clear that it hurts."
No Plans for Camp Visit
Solbakken ruled out the possibility of Odegaard joining the Norway camp in Amsterdam or for next week's game against Switzerland in Oslo. "Now it is three weeks until Arsenal play again, or two-and-a-half weeks. I think it could be a goal for Martin to be in a squad for his club then. It is within reach," Solbakken said.
"There is no reason for him to travel now. He has to train with Arsenal. If he wants to use a day off to come here, he is welcome to do so, but it is not something that has been planned."
Arsenal's Post-International Break Challenges
Arsenal will look to regroup after the international break following a lacklustre display in Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Manchester City. The match turned decisively in the second half when Nico O'Reilly scored twice within four minutes to secure victory for City.
The Gunners currently sit nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, though they have played one more match. Arsenal face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4, followed by the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final away to Sporting Lisbon three days later.
Additional Injury Concerns for Arsenal
Defenders Gabriel (knee), William Saliba (ankle), and Jurrien Timber (ankle) have all withdrawn from international duty due to injuries. England midfielder Eberechi Eze is also sidelined with a calf problem, while forward Leandro Trossard was not called up by Belgium as he manages a hip issue.
