Odegaard set for reunion with the man who left him limping

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Martin Odegaard is in line to face Bernardo Silva again tonight, just seven days after the challenge that left the Arsenal captain furious and nursing an ankle problem in Oslo.

Norway travel to Portugal for their UEFA Nations League meeting in Porto, kicking off at 7.45pm UK time. Odegaard has already shown that last weekend's scare will not keep him out of the fixture.

Ankle scare behind him

The midfielder recovered in time to start Norway's 2-1 defeat to Wales on Thursday, and he provided the assist for Oscar Bobb's opening goal before his side were pegged back.

That is the outcome Arsenal supporters wanted after an anxious few days. Odegaard reacted angrily to Silva's late challenge during Portugal's 2-1 win in Oslo last Sunday, and he was seen limping away from the pitch afterwards, which raised immediate concerns over the state of his ankle.

Ninety minutes of international football against Wales suggests those concerns have passed. With the fitness question answered, attention has shifted to the fact that the two men could share a pitch again so soon.

According to The Standard, Odegaard's quick return puts him on course to come up against Silva once more when Norway and Portugal meet in Porto.

Little sign of reconciliation

There was no obvious sign of the matter being settled in the immediate aftermath of the incident last weekend. Silva's response when he was later questioned about the challenge did little to cool things down either.

Whether any of that tension carries into tonight is another matter. Both players have far bigger priorities, and the table reflects two sides heading in opposite directions.

Norway have now lost consecutive Nations League matches, while Portugal arrive top of the group having won each of their opening three games. Odegaard's creative influence will be central to any Norwegian hopes of getting something from the trip, just as it is week to week for Arteta's side.

From an Arsenal perspective, the concern is narrower. The captain has already come through one fixture since the challenge, and the club will simply want him to emerge from a second without any recurrence of the ankle problem before he reports back to London Colney.

Kick-off in Porto is at 7.45pm, and Odegaard's involvement will be watched closely by Gunners supporters for reasons that have nothing to do with the Nations League standings.