Former Norway defender Jesper Mathisen, speaking to TV2, expressed his dread after watching the broadcast, with one eye on his country's upcoming World Cup campaign. "Those are scary images. Like watching a horror movie. A nightmare. He’s not sitting down for no reason. It would have been a big loss for both Arsenal and Norway if he had to go out with an injury again," Mathisen explained.
Despite the initial fear, there was a glimmer of hope as Odegaard was later seen celebrating with his team-mates after the final whistle. Nevertheless, with five separate injuries recorded this season, the recurring nature of his fitness issues is becoming a significant narrative for Mikel Arteta's side as they pursue European and domestic glory.