Odegaard gives promising injury update

Martin Odegaard has been unavailable for Arsenal since he picked up an ankle injury whilst on international duty with Norway in the Nations League in September. Despite Arteta and Norway boss Solbakken indicating an extended period on the sidelines, Odegaard himself appears optimistic.

"In the last week or so I’ve made really good progress,’ the skipper wrote in his programme notes ahead of Arsenal's match against Southampton in the Premier League. "I’m getting better and better by the day and feel it’s going well. When you feel like things are moving forward, it gives you motivation to do more and more and work harder. Today is our last game before another international break, so that gives me some more time to work on the rehab, too".

"Hopefully it won’t be much longer — I think we will know more as soon as I get out on the training pitches and we see how my ankle responds to that. At the moment it’s progressing well and it looks better than we were thinking, but we’ve still got to take every day as it comes," he concluded. 

While it may be long until the Norwegian is back on the pitch for Arsenal, Arteta confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenko is closer to his comeback. "Alex [Zinchenko] probably after the international break if everything goes well. He’s progressing really well," the Arsenal boss said. "Martin is very difficult, I expected still with the boot and a lot of things and he’s working so hard and is feeling good and is pushing it so it’s difficult to give a timeline."

Odegaard's absence does not seem to have shaken Arsenal so far, as they remain unbeaten in 10 matches across all competitions, including their latest 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday. The Gunners currently sit second level on points with City, and one point behind Premier League-leaders Liverpool.

 

October 5, 2024