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Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has expressed concerns over Martin Odegaard’s fitness, revealing that the Arsenal captain has picked up another knock while on international duty.

Odegaard initially injured his ankle during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton last weekend and was substituted in the 73rd minute, with Gabriel Martinelli replacing him.

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Despite the injury, Odegaard travelled with Norway’s squad for their Nations League opener against Kazakhstan. However, doubts have now arisen about his participation in the match in Almaty.

Although Odegaard has been seen training with his teammates, it appears he has sustained ‘another bang’ in addition to the knock he suffered against Brighton.

‘I don’t think that [the Brighton knock] is what it is,’ Norway manager Solbakken told reporters when asked of Odegaard was carrying an injury from the Brighton match.

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‘I think it’s another bang, I was about to say.

‘I think it is something other than the bang, so to speak.’

A new injury to Martin Ødegaard would be a significant worry for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal prepares for their upcoming north London derby against Spurs in the Premier League.

With ten days remaining before Arsenal’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Arteta’s side will aim to get back on track after their recent draw with Brighton.

The Gunners will be hoping that the Norway national team manages Ødegaard’s fitness carefully and cautiously.

Solbakken believes Odegaard has grown both on and off the pitch in the time they have worked together with the national side.

‘He has experienced fantastic development as a player and a person,’ he added.

‘He has developed a lot both on and off the field during the time we have been together.

‘He got the captain’s armband straight away and is a completely different personality both on and off the field now.’

After a number of loan moves, Solbakken feels Odegaard has benefitted massively from finding stability at Arsenal.

‘He’s now got a “permanent club”, you can say, with a contract instead of being a “foreign player”, and it has been very good for his development,’ Solbakken continued.

‘We see that now and he is one of the highest profile players in the Premier League.’

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