Martin Odegaard provides injury update as Arsenal captain reveals truth about Norway dispute

Martin Odegaard has provided an update on his fitness following his return from the treatment room. The Arsenal captain suffered a shoulder injury during the first half of the Gunners' 5-0 win against Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium last month.

He picked up the knock inside the opening quarter of an hour, when he fell awkwardly after being pulled back by Anton Stach. Odegaard was clearly in discomfort, wincing and holding his shoulder, but he soldiered on.

A few moments later, the Norway international was back on the deck - receiving treatment from the club physio. Odegaard climbed to his feet, once again, but he was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri shortly before the break.

Odegaard underwent a scan the following day and he was deemed fit enough to travel to Anfield the following weekend. The 26-year-old midfielder was handed a brief cameo off the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Despite question marks over his availability, Odegaard was called up for international duty. The Norway captain started in a 1-0 friendly win over Finland on Thursday; he was one of four changes that Stale Solbakken made at half-time.

Speaking with reporters ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday, Odegaard claimed that he's recovered from his shoulder problem. He also insisted that Arsenal had no issue with him joining the Norway squad this month, despite reports suggesting there had been a disagreement.

"It hurt a lot, but now I got it under control and I feel ready," said Odegaard, as quoted by The Evening Standard. "It was never an issue [between Norway and Arsenal]. I talk a lot with Stale Solbakken. The club obviously wanted me for Liverpool, and my only job was to get ready."

Odegaard was also quizzed on comments made by Tony Adams - who has doubted his leadership. At an event organised by the Irish Independent newspaper, the former Arsenal skipper claimed Declan Rice should wear the armband instead.

"You've got someone in there who's going to play every game all season, and that's going to encourage people to come in and lay the foundations of a title-winning team. Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can't. Come on, Arteta, make him captain."

Responding to Adams, Odegaard said: "I don't care that much. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and say what they want. I live with that.

"You can't care what everyone says - and there will be a lot of positive and negative things that can affect me. It's important to just block it out. I've done it my whole career."

In light of Adams' remarks, Arteta jumped to Odegaard's defence. The Arsenal boss said: "I asked them to vote the captain and I got the result yesterday.

"And by a mile, by a big, big 100 miles, everybody choosing the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, and which is the most clear sign that you can have.

"It's how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win matches that we want to win... I think there's no question about that."

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