Arsenal are monitoring the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard with close attention after the Norwegian midfielder picked up an ankle knock during international duty — an injury that threatens to derail the playmaker's momentum at the start of another campaign.

Odegaard suffered the knock during Norway's match against Portugal on Sunday, after receiving a late challenge from Bernardo Silva. The 27-year-old was visibly frustrated by the foul, telling reporters afterwards: "He just kicked me down long after I'd played the ball away: I don't understand what he's doing."

Norwegian television broadcaster TV2 reported that Odegaard required "treatment behind closed doors for a long time" following the incident. When asked about the extent of the damage, the midfielder offered little reassurance, saying it "probably won't be good tonight."

Norway and Arsenal in close communication

Odegaard's availability for Norway's fixture against Wales later this week remains uncertain. However, Norwegian manager Stale Solbakken confirmed that the national team's medical staff are maintaining near-constant contact with Arsenal over his condition.

"The medical sector reports what has happened, and now it is the case that every metre you run here, and all training and everything you have done, is sent to the club. The medical contact is almost continuous," Solbakken told Nettavisen.

"It's standard procedure. I don't interfere with that. There are four or five people for that, so they have to manage that," the manager added.

Arteta faces mounting injury concerns

The news compounds a difficult international break for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Kai Havertz limped off during Germany duty, while Declan Rice withdrew from the England squad altogether. Defender Ezri Konsa sat out training with England following their defeat to Spain at Wembley, and Jurrien Timber continued an individual programme after returning from a previous injury.

Ben White also remains sidelined after sustaining a fresh knock, despite an impressive start to his campaign. Arsenal face Leeds United when Premier League action resumes after the international break.

The scale of Arteta's anxiety is understandable: a similar ankle injury sustained by Odegaard on international duty last season — also against his country — ruled him out for two months, a period that proved pivotal as Arsenal surrendered the Premier League title to Liverpool.