Martin Odegaard was not able to play for Norway in their crucial World Cup qualifiers this week due to a knee injury, but he still joined in with his teammates' celebrations
Martin Odegaard during a Norway game
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard was in the thick of Norway celebrations
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Arsenal's Martin Odegaard was at the heart of Norway's jubilant celebrations on Thursday night as they edged closer to securing a World Cup spot for the first time in over two decades.
The 26-year-old is currently nursing a knee injury picked up before the October international break during Arsenal's 2-0 Premier League victory over West Ham. He sat out Norway's qualifier against Israel last month and was also absent for their 4-1 triumph over Estonia on Thursday, which brought them tantalisingly close to qualification.
Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth each netted twice in the resounding victory in Oslo, keeping Norway firmly atop Group I with just one match remaining against Italy on Sunday. The Italians, trailing by three points, would need to defeat Norway and overturn an incredible 17-goal difference to snatch the automatic qualification spot this weekend.
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Understandably, the Norway dressing room was awash with celebrations after the win over Estonia, with the prospect of next summer's World Cup now within touching distance. Norway have only graced football's grandest stage three times in their history, with their most recent appearance in 1998, when they advanced to the round of 16.
Despite his injury, Odegaard was right in the midst of the post-match festivities with his team-mates. In a video clip shared on social media, the Arsenal skipper can be seen donned in casual attire as they danced to booming music, with Manchester City's Haaland also leading the revelry, reports football.london.
Football.london reported this week that Odegaard opted to join his national side during the international break, despite not being able to play, rather than taking a few days off. His decision was driven by his desire to support his team-mates during what could be a historic week for Norway.
Martin Odegaard during an Arsenal game
Martin Odegaard is currently out injured
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Norway's head coach Stale Solbakken spoke about his captain's fitness earlier this week, telling reporters: "It is steady. It is going in a steady direction, but he is some distance away."
While Odegaard continues his recovery, it remains uncertain when Mikel Arteta will have the midfielder back in his squad. However, with a packed winter schedule and key matches in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup, the Arsenal manager will be hoping to have him back sooner rather than later.
Once the international break is over, the Gunners will face fierce rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. They then have a challenging European match against Bayern Munich before heading to Chelsea for a league game before the month ends.
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