Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of Norway's upcoming Nations League double-header in a major boost for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The 25-year-old has only played twice since spending two months out with the ankle injury he suffered during September's international break.
Though he was not included in Stale Solbakken's initial squad this time round, alarm bells were ringing for Arteta when Odegaard jetted to Oslo for a more thorough medical assessment to determine whether he could play.
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However, it has now been decided that Odegaard will sit out Thursday's trip to Slovenia and Sunday's meeting with Kazakhstan.
"After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches," said the midfielder.
"I've been through a long training period and when you haven't practiced football in the last nine weeks, it's natural not to be 100 per cent yet.
"I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape. The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches, and if I hadn't played on Sunday, it would have been out of the question to participate anyway.
"It's a very bad feeling to lose these games, I love playing for Norway and with this team. But I have great faith in the boys and wish them the best of luck - there are still good opportunities to win the group."
Norway are looking to clinch promotion from Nations League Group B3 after two wins, a draw and a defeat in their first four matches. Solbakenn and co. will now have to finish the job without Odegaard - a veteran of 61 caps.
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Arsenal have a crucial stage of the season to prepare for and Arteta needs all hands on deck. The Gunners have struggled in the absence of Odegaard - their captain and key creative influence - with a patchy start to the campaign leaving them nine points behind runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Odegaard made a brief cameo against Inter in the Champions League last week and somehow managed the full 90 minutes of Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday.
He now has the duration of the international break to hone his condition before facing Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on November 23.
