Football News : Arsenal gives pessimistic update on injury of Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal is "not doing well," according to head coach of Norway Stale Solbakken, following a calf injury. Along with left defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, the 23-year-old was absent from the Gunners' 3-0

Premier League triumph away at Brentford on Sunday, and Mikel Arteta is unclear of when the pair will be available again. Odegaard has been selected in Norway's 26-man squad for their forthcoming UEFA Nations League

For matches against Slovenia and Serbia despite not playing at the Gtech Community Stadium.

"Yeah they are both injured and not available for the game," Arteta told Sky Sports News before last weekend's win."

"I don't know [when they will return]. We have the international break right now so that will give us a break.

"They are two different injuries and things but we don't know yet."

Though Solbaaken claims that he and his staff have been in regular communication with Arsenalto discuss the player's condition, Odegaard is questionable for Norway's Saturday trip to Slovenia.

"We are in regular dialogue with him and (Mikel) Arteta and Arsenal's health sector, as it is called in Danish. Nothing has been decided there, so there is still hope,"

Solbakken told TV2.

"They are the ones who have had 'hands on him' up until now, and they are in dialogue. He's not doing well now.

"Now it's a matter of getting a final decision on whether he can be in both or one game. We'll certainly see him in Norway, either as a player or a 'fourth coach'. It means a lot to have him."

Norway's first four Nations League games in League B Group 4 earlier this year all saw Odegaard start as captain, while Solbakken's team is currently in first place with 10 points.

Since then, the playmaker has had a strong start for Arsenal in the Premier League, scoring three times in six games, including a brace in the 3-0 victory away at Bournemouth last month.

After the international break, on October 1, Arsenal will host rivals Tottenham Hotspur from North London at the Emirates Stadium. If Odegaard needs additional care for his calf injury, Fabio Vieira might have another chance to start.

In the 3-0 victory over Brentford, Vieira scored his team's first goal before being substituted late in the game by 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, the Premier League's youngest-ever player at the time.

Zinchenko, meantime, has been ruled out of Ukraine's future international matches due to a calf issue and will be sidelined for at least two weeks.

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