Ødegaard fitness boost: Arsenal captain shines on international duty
Martin Ødegaard has been nursing a shoulder injury picked up against Leeds. The injury meant he did not start against Liverpool, making only a 20-minute cameo in a game where, had he been fully fit, he would have been seen as one of Arsenal’s potential game-changers. Many hoped the Arsenal skipper would use the international […] The post Ødegaard fitness boost: Arsenal captain shines on international duty appeared first on Just Arsenal News.
RR aka Rishi-Raj
Martin Ødegaard has been nursing a shoulder injury picked up against Leeds.
The injury meant he did not start against Liverpool, making only a 20-minute cameo in a game where, had he been fully fit, he would have been seen as one of Arsenal’s potential game-changers.
Many hoped the Arsenal skipper would use the international break to recover fully, returning refreshed and ready to pull the strings in midfield.
So when Norway lined up against Finland on Thursday night, most Gooners were surprised to see Ødegaard named in the starting XI.
Did their captain really need to play, given his shoulder concerns? That was the question on many lips.
Either way, Ødegaard started and impressed during his 45-minute outing.
Norwegian media react
While praising his quality performance, Norwegian media noted Ødegaard’s cautious approach, something that should ease concerns among Gooners.
NRK wrote:
“He was probably careful not to get into unnecessary duels, and withdrew on at least one occasion; he took no chances that his shoulder would get worse.”
Dagbladet added:
“What the hell? There was a lot of talk about the shoulder beforehand. But it did not affect him in any way. He was very involved in the game and made excellent passes. Norway’s best when he was on the field.”
Nettavisen Sport observed:
“In from the start despite a sore shoulder, and was allowed to have a lot of ball against a very low-lying Finland team. Had a couple of good shooting opportunities without the aim being set, and it was mostly a relatively comfortable half for the Norwegian national team captain, who occasionally showed what he has.”
Match fitness boost
While some would have preferred Ødegaard to be rested, it makes sense for him to get minutes under his belt. That run-out helps sharpen his match fitness, which is crucial with Arsenal facing a tough run of fixtures after the break, where manager Mikel Arteta will need his best players available.
In the end, Norway edged Finland 1-0 thanks to a first-half Erling Haaland penalty, a win made possible, in part, by Ødegaard’s assured performance.
Are you watching many of the internationals?
Daniel O
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