The news will come as a blow to manager Mikel Arteta given Odegaard’s importance to his team. The start of Odegaard’s season has been plagued by injury problems, with the midfielder being forced off in the first half of three consecutive Premier League matches. Arsenal face north London rivals Tottenham immediately after next month’s international break, and it remains to be seen whether Odegaard can recover in time for the derby on 23 November. Norway took a significant step towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, beating Israel 5-0. Should they qualify for next summer’s competition, it will…

Available for over a year Steve Crossman sits down with Brentford’s Fabio Carvalho and club psychologist Michael Caulfield to discuss how the club’s culture of talking openly has helped their players. Michael installed a bench at the training ground, dubbed Michael’s bench, where players can discuss what is on their mind and share. It has been such a success that the club have installed three more benches at the training ground for their Academy teams and are now putting up more benches around the local community, encourage people to talk to help with their mental health. In an honest interview,…

Italian club Como say “sacrifice is essential” to ensure the “survival” of Serie A amid the financial dominance of the Premier League as they press ahead with plans to play AC Milan in Perth, Australia. This month Uefa “reluctantly” approved next February’s fixture between the sides taking place outside Italy because there is no legal framework to stop it. Spanish La Liga clubs Villarreal and Barcelona are also set to face each other in Miami in December having received permission from European football’s governing body. A lengthy statement from Como, external made the case for the fixture being moved to…

The biggest decision for Wiegman is how she will replace Williamson and Bright in defence. Their absences in defence could be a chance for Wiegman to hand Arsenal teenager Katie Reid a first senior call-up. The 19-year-old has been excellent so far in her breakout season, keeping fellow England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy out of the side in the process. Wiegman could also give Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier an opportunity at centre-back in these friendlies, despite preferring her at full-back for England. Elsewhere, she has decisions to make on the attacking front with Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones continuing her…

Gerrard turned down the chance to return, with the timing of the move believed to be behind his decision. The former Liverpool and England captain held talks with the Scottish Premiership club last week following Russell Martin’s dismissal as head coach. Those discussions were thought to have gone well but the 45-year-old opted against a second stint in Glasgow. It leaves the fledgling Rangers hierarchy searching for a head coach to succeed Martin, who lasted just 17 matches after being appointed in June. They sit eighth in the Scottish top flight, having won just once in their opening seven league…

England defender Millie Bright has announced her retirement from international football. The 32-year-old, who was part of England’s European Championship-winning team in 2022, made her senior debut in September 2016 and went on to win 88 caps. “I’ve been weighing this up for a long time,” Chelsea captain Bright said on Monday’s ‘The Rest is Football: Daly Brightness’ podcast. “It’s one of those decisions no-one can make for you. It’s a feeling and I’m at peace with it.” Bright missed out as England defended their Euros title in Switzerland in July after ruling herself out of the tournament because she…

Australia coach Andrew McDonald said on Friday that Cummins would likely need a minimum of four weeks of bowling preparation to have any chance of featuring in the first Test. Cummins agreed, saying: “You’d want at least probably a month in the nets. “If you play a Test match, you want to make sure you’re right to bowl 20 overs in a day and you don’t have to really think about it. “So four weeks is pretty tight. But I think somewhere around that mark.” Given Cummins’ timeframe, there is also no guarantee he will be fit for the second…

Ben Stokes and Mark Wood will be “raring to go” in time for the Ashes, according to England pace bowler Brydon Carse. Talismanic England skipper Stokes missed the final Test against India in July because of a shoulder injury, while express paceman Wood has not played a Test since August 2024 as a result of elbow and knee problems. Both are looking to be fit for the first Test in Perth on 21 November, a series opener that Australia captain Pat Cummins has said he is “less likely than likely” to feature in because of a back injury. Carse, a…