The Norway Football Federation announced on Tuesday that Martin Odegaard wouldn’t be involved in the November internationals, despite travelling to Oslo following Arsenal’s game against Chelsea.
That decision was seemingly taken in consultation with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, with Norway’s Stale Solbakken revealing that the two had a phone conversation.
“He called me,” Solbakken confirmed. “We discussed the situation openly and honestly. He didn’t have much more information than what had come to light and what Martin had said to both the medical team at Arsenal and to us.”
When questioned on whether it was normal to have those sorts of phone calls, Solbakken admitted it’s not.
“No, it isn’t, but we have spoken a few times. It has something to do with the fact that he is captain and that I have visited there a few times. I can’t call everyone, but I can there, since I’ve been there.”
As for whether Odegaard would rule himself out of international duty even when fit, just to make himself available for club matches, Solbakken steadfastly denied such suggestions.
“If there is one person in the whole world I can give everything I have to and trust one hundred percent in how he is, it is Martin Odegaard,” Solbakken insisted. “That’s why I made him captain three or four years ago.”
It’s obviously the best thing for the player if these decision are taken as a group, with all parties getting on the same page.
If Arteta plays Odegaard in one game and expects Solbakken to rest him in the next, only for the Norway boss to give him 90 minutes days later, the player himself will suffer.
Odegaard is clearly someone who loves to play for his country, so he’ll be keen to be involved whenever the chance arises. It’s up to Arsenal and Norway to make sensible decisions on whether there’s any risk there.
On this occasion, after two months out, everybody evidently agrees that Odegaard is best off remaining at London Colney.
