During a Euro 2024 qualifier match between Norway and Spain, Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard was left clutching his ankle after being taken out by Manchester City star Rodri. Odegaard was lining up for Norway when the incident occurred, as he picked up the ball in the penalty area and shifted it onto his left foot to take a shot. However, Rodri’s strong challenge wiped the playmaker out, leading to his effort being blocked and cleared away from danger. Despite the challenge, Norway were not given a penalty.
Odegaard managed to get back to his feet and continued playing, but Norway fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Spain. Some Arsenal fans are speculating that the challenge may have been premeditated, as the Gunners currently hold an eight-point lead over Man City at the top of the Premier League table. However, it is unclear whether this was actually the case.
On social media, some fans expressed concern that Rodri may try to take Odegaard out again in the future. One fan wrote, “Take Odegaard out this Rodri guy is may be on mission,” while another said, “I hope Odegaard crunches Rodri back.” Despite these concerns, it is important to remember that football is a physical sport and challenges like this are not uncommon.