Bernardo Silva's late tackle on Martin Odegaard raises fresh injury and squad-concern for Arsenal

The useful part

Arsenal have another big worry after what Bernardo Silva did to Martin Odegaard Skip to main content Add us as a preferred source Norway v Portugal. --> Martin Odegaard was seen limping towards the Norway team bus on Sunday night after being recklessly fouled by Bernardo Silva during the Scandinavian nation's match against Portugal in the Nations League. Odegaard revealed after the game that he is in a bit of discomfort, and he will have to carefully monitor his ankle over the coming weeks.

How it works

• While directly accusing a player of going out to injure another player is a fine line to tread, it's difficult to watch the 32-year-old's tackle on Odegaard and think there was no malice or ill-intention...
• If Silva can essentially get away with it, why would they not try a similar thing?
• Few players go out intending to hurt rival players, but humankind means this malice can certainly filter into their subconscious, as shown by Silva's antics on Sunday.
• However, the Silva-on-Odegaard incident will only increase their fears.
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What to take from it

Arsenal will hope this is the only casualty of this interlude in the season, though the chances are slim. --> Kai Havertz has already gone down injured during this international break and has returned to London Colney for medical assessments. The Gunners have 15 players away on international duty, all of whom have at least two more matches to play before returning to North London.

Example or evidence

• December, and both sides are expected to reach the latter stages of the competition.
• Silva therefore has an incentive to harm any Arsenal player he comes up against when playing for his country.
• The 27-year-old released the ball some time before Silva rashly collided with him.
• It didn't look like there was ever any honest intention to win the ball, particularly given Odegaard wasn't in a threatening position and it was in the dying embers, so there was no reason for Silva to go...

Details worth keeping

UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 MD2 | Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages Martin Odegaard was seen limping towards the Norway team bus on Sunday night after being recklessly fouled by Bernardo Silva during the Scandinavian nation's match against Portugal in the Nations League. The former Manchester City man's needless late tackle on Odegaard in stoppage time of a meaningless international match speaks volumes about the character of the Real Madrid star, and the Norwegian had every right to lose his head. It's no surprise this unnecessarily reckless foul prompted frustration.

Related coverage

• Justarsenal: Bernardo Silva is trending for the wrong reasons again after the Portuguese star nearly injured Martin Odegaard when their countries met in the Nations League last night.
• Dailycannon: Martin Odegaard and his Norway teammates spoke out strongly against Bernardo Silva on Sunday, following the Portuguese international's late kick out at the Arsenal player.
• Justarsenal: Arsenal have started this season strongly, and the Gunners are keen to ensure that they continue delivering top performances in all competitions for the rest of the year.