25 March 2023 , 21:23
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Arsenal fans have taken to social media to relay their fury at a brutal tackle from Manchester City star Rodri that left Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard writhing around the floor in agony.
The two players met while on international duty for their respective nations, with Rodri lining up for Spain against a Norway side captained by Odegaard. While the game is certainly competitive as a Euro 2024 qualifier, but Mikel Arteta certainly wouldn't have appreciated just how brutal the Etihad ace went in on one of his most important players.
Arsenal and City are currently battling it out for the Premier League title. Odegaard has helped guide the Gunners to a point where they are now eight points clear at the top of the table, though they have played one game more than Rodri's City.
The Emirates faithful know just how vital Odegaard is to proceedings over in the red half of North London, which is why they would have winced when watching Rodri steam in on the Norwegian.
The Norway and Arsenal captain received the ball inside Spain's penalty area and shifted it onto his favoured left foot, while winding up to unleash a shot Rodri's late attempt to block the effort turned into a brutal challenge that cleaned Odegaard out.
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Clearly hurt by the tackle, Odegaard was left clutching his left leg while rolling around in agony, though remarkably the referee waved play on and ignored Norway's pleas for a penalty.
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Footage of the tackle quickly surfaced on social media, with a number of furious Arsenal fans claiming Rodri's poor tackle was intentional to try and derail the Gunners title charge.
One particularly angry user wrote: "I’m convinced Pep Guardiola instructed Rodri to take out Odegaard from the face of the Earth."
Another weighed in as they added: "Absolutely horrible foul from Rodri on Odegaard, Incredibly, no penalty given, Rodri under Pep’s orders to injure our captain?"
A similar sentiment was shared by another Arsenal fan, who claimed: "That Rodri challenge on Odegaard in the box…blatant pen. Leg breaker. Wow."
"Good timing by Rodri with his challenge on Odegaard. On a serious note this is the most obvious attempt to injury an opponent I’ve ever seen," another fumed. "He hasn’t even made contact here yet and O's shot already traveled all that way…"
Thankfully for both Arteta and the Arsenal fans, Odegaard managed to pick himself up and carry on after Rodri's eye-watering, late challenge.
Spain went on to win the tie 3-0, with Dani Olmo's opener followed by a Joselu brace in the second-half.