Martin Ødegaard facing 'at least three weeks' on sidelines

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is expected to be sidelined “at least three weeks” through injury.

The playmaker had to be helped off the pitch after turning his ankle during Norway’s Nations League clash with Austria.

Ødegaard has returned to London Colney to undergo scans and is already an early doubt for Sunday’s clash with local rivals Tottenham.

But Norway team doctor Ola Sand has allayed fears that the 25-year-old could be facing a lengthy spell out by revealing he likely avoided an ankle fracture.

“Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus, and then it can take longer,” he told Norwegian outlet VG.

“Ankle injuries are very painful right away. With Martin, it was extremely painful. He became very worried.

“They are studying the MR images now, and have sent them on.

“What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle.

“In the event of a fracture, we are talking about being out of action for six weeks plus.”

Mikel Arteta has already seen Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu ruled out for the north London derby while Riccardo Calafiori is being assessed.