Arsenal fans fume as Martin Odegaard is left clutching his ankle after being wiped out with a ‘leg breaking’ tackle by Man City title rival Rodri… with the Gunners captain furious not to receive a penalty in Norway’s defeat to Spain
Arsenal fans have been left fuming after Man City midfielder Rodri left Martin Odegaard in agony after a crunching challenge on Saturday.
Rodri caught the Arsenal captain with a late challenge during Spain’s 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifier victory over Norway at Malaga’s La Rosaleda stadium.
Norway though felt that they should have had a penalty when Rodri wiped out the Arsenal captain.
As Odegaard fired a shot which was blocked by a Spain defender, he was then left holding onto his ankle after the challenge by Rodri who got none of the ball.
‘I’m pretty sure I should have had a penalty,’ Odegaard told TV2 after the match. ‘He’s coming with his studs right on my ankle.
Rodri somehow avoided a penalty after a brutal late tackle on Arsenal star Martin Odegaard
‘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.’
Arsenal fans were also not happy with the challenge, which they felt could have potentially hurt their star player during their title run-in against Rodri’s City.
One fan wrote: ‘That Rodri challenge on Odegaard in the box…blatant pen. Leg breaker. Wow.’
Another Arsenal supporter wrote: ‘The City dressing room have definitely been talking about Odegaard, the Rodri tackle was definitely premeditated.’
@WizardOfTheOzil commented: ‘Rodri playing nasty tactics there. How can you go unpunished after that tackle? It also looked like he had the intention to injure Odegaard.’
Another Twitter user commented: ‘It just had to be Rodri to make that tackle on Odegaard during Arsena/Man City (title) race. Thankfully he’s fine.’
While one user suggested the tackle was an ‘obvious attempt’ to injure a rival and that Arsenal have got Man City ‘terrified’.
They wrote: ‘Only just seen that Rodri horror tackle on Odegaard in the Spain v Norway game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more obvious attempt to try and injure a rival player. We’ve got Man City terrified.
Despite the late challenge by Rodri, the Spaniard somehow avoided giving away a penalty to the fury of Odegaard and his team-mates.
Though it was a frustrating night for Norway, Arsenal fans will be relieved that their star player wasn’t significantly hurt by the challenge from Rodri – as he was able to complete the match.
Spain clinched the 3-0 win after an early strike from Dani Olmo, and a late brace from Joselu inside the final ten minutes.
Arsenal fans fumed with Rodri after feeling the midfielder was trying to injure a title rival
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