The midfielder was injured during Norway’s 2–1 defeat to Portugal on Sunday, when Bernardo Silva caught him with a late challenge from behind after the ball had been played.
Silva was shown a yellow card for the tackle, which left Ødegaard in visible pain. The Norway captain later criticised the challenge, saying it “doesn't belong on a football pitch”.
Norway assistant coach Brede Hangeland described the incident as an “ugly” tackle, but offered hope that Ødegaard could recover in time for Thursday’s fixture.
Norway hopeful over Ødegaard’s fitness
According to Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, Ødegaard did not join the squad’s training session on Tuesday as he continued to recover from the ankle knock.
However, Hangeland said the midfielder was feeling better and had experienced less pain than the previous day.
“He was happy. He was in less pain today than yesterday,” Hangeland said.
The assistant coach added that there was still time for the Arsenal captain to improve before Norway face Wales, stressing that two and a half days could make a significant difference.
Norway have not ruled Ødegaard out of the match, although his availability will depend on his recovery.
The Scandinavian side will travel to Wales for Thursday’s Nations League encounter before facing Portugal again on Sunday.
Arsenal monitoring injury situation
Ødegaard’s injury is another concern for Arsenal during the international break, with Kai Havertz already having left Germany’s squad after suffering a muscle strain.
The Gunners will be monitoring the situation closely as they await further updates on their captain’s fitness ahead of the return of club football.
For Norway, Ødegaard’s potential absence would be a significant setback as they prepare for two important Nations League fixtures.