Soccer

ARSENAL star Martin Odegaard has been spotted boarding a private jet on crutches in a worrying injury blow ahead of Sunday’s derby against Tottenham.The Gunners captain suffered a blow to his ankle while playing for Norway against Austria.Martin Odegaard has been spotted on crutches after getting injured while playing for NorwayCredit: VGThe ace is a major doubt for the derby against SpursCredit: GettyThe ace was in tears after going down against AustriaOdegaard had to be helped off the pitch by Erling HaalandCredit: RexOdegaard went down after a 50/50 challenge with Christoph Baumgartner and was left writing in agony.His pregnant girlfriend Helene Spilling was in the crowd and looked concerned as it became apparent Odegaard could not continue.He eventually went off the field in tears as team-mates including Erling Haaland consoled him.And Odegaard is now a huge doubt for Arsenal’s crunch clash against rivals Spurs this weekend, with Norway doctor Ola Sand saying: “He is on his way to London and will have an MRI there later today.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“(My assessment?) Nothing but a strong overstepping and that we await what Arsenal find.”The playmaker withdrew from Norway’s camp to return to London on Tuesday morning.Odegaard took a private jet back to the capital to undergo a full assessment by Arsenal’s medical staff.But the signs are not good as the ace needed crutches to get about.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOdegaard appeared to grimace as he approached the plane’s steps while accompanied by a helper.And Mikel Arteta will be praying for good news as his skipper prepares to undergo scans to determine the extent of his injury.Martin Odegaard leaves pitch in tears in major Arsenal injury blow ahead of North London DerbyOdegaard went down after a 50/50 with Christoph BaumgartnerIt soon became clear he could not continuePregnant partner Helene Spilling looked concerned in the standsNorway boss Stale Solbakken made a bizarre joke about Odegaard’s injuryThe Spaniard is already without Declan Rice through suspension.Meanwhile, new signing Mikel Merino is sidelined for several months with a freak shoulder injury sustained during his first Arsenal training session following his summer transfer.Arteta is sure to be even more subdued about the situation after Norway boss Stale Solbakken made an ill-timed joke about Odegaard’s setback on Monday night.Solbakken said: “It looked very painful in the locker room. I saw that he was sitting with the physios around him and he had no chance to continue.”We know that it is an ankle sprain. Those of us who have played football know with luck it can turn out OK – if the ligaments are not torn.”But I am not really sure Arteta will call me tonight to praise me.”With Odegaard set to be out of the derby against Spurs, Arsenal will likely have to shuffle their pack once more.Thomas Partey and Jorginho already looked set to deputise in place of Rice and Merino.And Odegaard’s absence could see Kai Havertz dropped to a deeper role.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat may allow Raheem Sterling to make his debut after a deadline day loan move from Chelsea.But Arteta does have other options, with youngster Ethan Nwaneri and defender Oleksandr Zinchenko also capable of slotting in. More

THIS is the sensational moment Kevin De Bruyne says “I QUIT” – plunging his Belgium future into doubt.Etihad ace De Bruyne, 33, slammed the tactical approach under coach Domenico Tedesco in a TV interview.Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne hinted he may quit BelgiumCredit: X @RTLsportsbeDe Bruyne appeared to have told departing technical director Frank Vercauteren he is quittingCredit: X @RTLsportsbeDe Bruyne didn’t mince his words to his Belgium team-mates at full-timeCredit: X @RTLsportsbeDe Bruyne criticised the match tactics after Belgium’s loss to FranceCredit: UEFAThat came after he was spotted by the cameras in a heated post-match discussion with former Red Devils winger Frank Vercauteren, who is set to leave his role as the national team’s sporting director.De Bruyne ended that conversation by stepping away from Vercauteren and towards France striker Kylian Mbappe saying “I quit, I quit.”And when de Bruyne declined to expand on his frustrationsin the post-match mixed zone, it fuelled fears that he may be ready to turn his back on Tedesco’s side – just a week after insisting he wanted to keep going until the 2026 World Cup.Belgium, who beat Israel 3-1 in their Nations League opener, were second best throughout the 2-0 defeat in Lyon.Read More on FootballIn his TV snapshot verdict, the Manchester City superstar did not hold back.He said: “There is not much to say. I cannot say what went wrong. “I already said that to the team at half-time and I cannot repeat that in the media. I did that when I was 18 at RC Genk, but today I am 33. You will find out for yourself.”Quizzed further by former Belgium striker turned TV reporter Gilles de Bilde, who suggested the team’s initial high press had been effective, De Bruyne added: “Gilles, you have also played football, but you are not asking the right tactical questions. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“It is not about transition, but about people who do not perform their tasks.“We simply have too many at the back. If you stay with six at the back, there is no connection. Then that is how it is. It is what it is.De Bruyne and Ederson to leave Manchester City this summer?“I can’t say what, but some things are just unacceptable. “I was the first to see that we are not as good as in 2018. “But if our standard is the top and we are not good enough to reach that level, then you have to at least give everything. If some people don’t even do that, then it’s over.”De Bruyne’s brutal comments clearly touched a nerve with his team-mates also declining to speak post-match, although Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana said the skipper had shouted at half-time: “Level up”.Tedesco suggested De Bruyne had reacted “emotionally”.He said: “Kevin is our captain and has a huge winning mentality, so he can also react emotionally. READ MORE SUN STORIES“You can’t say after a match that he wants to stop playing for us. Kevin is a winner. He is very emotional. It is normal that we are disappointed now, but we have to let the emotions cool down.”De Bruyne was in a much happier mood the next day when he and his wife Michele Lacroix attended the Ronald McDonald House in Jette to mark the fifth anniversary of the children’s fund.De Bruyne was in a much happier mood the next dayDe Bruyne and his wife Michele Lacroix attended the Ronald McDonald House in JetteDe Bruyne marked the fifth anniversary of the children’s fund More