Odegaard furious after surviving dangerous tackle - ‘It’s better not to say anything’

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has reacted after surviving a dangerous Rodri tackle during a Euro 2024 qualifier between Spain and Norway.

La Roja won 3-0 in Malaga after Dani Olmo scored the opener and substitute Joselu came off the bench to register a quick-fire brace.

Before the deadlock was broken, Norway felt they should have been given a penalty following Rodri’s late challenge on the Arsenal midfielder.

Odegaard skipped past Dani Carvajal, and after he fired his shot, Rodri arrived and wiped him out. The Norwegian was seen to be in agony as he clutched his ankle.

He then rose up and protested to the referee calling for a penalty, but French official Benoit Bastien did not award a foul.

"I’m pretty sure I should have had a penalty," Odegaard told TV2, as quoted by Metro. "He’s coming with his studs right on my ankle.

"But I’m sure I’ll get punished [if I say anymore]. I don’t bother saying anything else about the referee. It’s better not to say anything."

On his part, Norway’s coach Stale Solbakken echoed the midfielder’s sentiments, saying they deserved a penalty.

"It is a clear penalty!" Solbakken said.

"He finishes the shot, and you can’t [foul him after]. If I knock someone down after the ball is gone, then it’s a penalty. I get a little bored with this.

"What I see here now [on the replay] is exactly what I saw from the bench. There was a bit of French arrogance going on. That’s the way it is, but it’s unbelievable."

Rodri’s challenge on Odegaard comes as both Arsenal and Manchester City are challenging for the Premier League title.