Arsenal get mixed news on Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard after double injury scare

Declan Rice is expected to report up for England duty despite his injury scare, but Arsenal have received bad news on captain Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal midfielder Rice came off at the end of his side’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday witha back injury and Mikel Arteta voiced concerns about whether he would be fit for England. But Rice is expected to join up at St George’s Park on Monday for the friendly with Wales and then qualifier in Latvia.

Harry Kane has also indicated he will be fit after complaint of a foot issue after scoring in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. But there was less good news for Arsenal star Odegaard, who has withdrawn from Norway’s squad to face Israel and New Zealand.

Odegaard hurt ligaments in his left knee and Arsenal are awaiting scans with the Norway midfielder spotted leaving with a brace on his knee.

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Arsenal said in a statement: "Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday’s win over West Ham United.

"Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible."

The news comes as a huge blow for Arsenal after Odegaard put in an inspired performance to help them pick up a 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday. The playmaker had only just shaken off a shoulder injury and Arteta gave a gloomy post-match update on Saturday.

“With Martin it was a clash, knee to knee. It’s not looking very positive at the moment," he told Sky Sports. “Immediately he was uncomfortable. I just spoke to him, he’s not positive about it, he’s got a brace on, we’ll have to wait and see from the doctors.”

Asked about Rice, who was taken off after he scored the opening goal against West Ham, Arteta added: “He had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we’ll have to assess him and see how he is.”

The Gunners are next in action when they make the short trip across London to play Fulham at Craven Cottage on October 18. The injury to Odegaard took the shine off an otherwise great weekend for Arsenal, who now sit top of the Premier League table, one point above Liverpool, who were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

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