Odegaard out with MCL injury until after Nov international break

Arsenal and Norway captain Martin Odegaard will remain sidelined until after the November international break after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury in Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham on October 4, the club confirmed. The 26 year old midfielder is expected to miss a run of fixtures for both club and country over the next six weeks, depriving Arsenal of their playmaker during a packed period in the Premier League and Champions League.

Arsenal said the injury is to Odegaard's MCL and that he will not return before the international break in mid November. The problem arose after a knee clash with West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville that forced Odegaard off around the half hour mark. He had earlier struggled with shoulder issues this season and missed two months last year with an ankle sprain.

Odegaard is likely to miss at least nine matches, including Premier League visits to Fulham and Burnley, home league games against Crystal Palace, Champions League ties with Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague, and a Carabao Cup tie with Brighton. Arsenal's first fixture after the break is the north London derby against Tottenham on November 23, which is the earliest realistic...