Odegaard Nearing Arsenal Return, Says Arteta
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is close to returning from a prolonged ankle injury and could be fit to face title rivals Liverpool next week, according to manager Mikel Arteta. The Norwegian midfielder has been sidelined since suffering the injury on international duty early in September. Despite his absence since August 31, Arsenal remains unbeaten in the Premier League, trailing league leaders Liverpool by just one point.
Arteta confirmed that Odegaard won’t be available for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Bournemouth but hopes the midfielder will be fit in time for the games against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and Liverpool in the Premier League next week.
“He’s not going to be fit for this game. Next week will be a different story. He’s doing a lot already but needs to clear certain markers, especially with the ball,” Arteta explained. The coming week will be crucial in determining how close Odegaard is to full fitness.
In more positive news, Arteta also allayed concerns about Bukayo Saka, who picked up an injury during England’s 2-1 loss to Greece and missed the following match against Finland. Arteta described the injury as “not serious” and suggested that Saka might be fit for the Bournemouth clash, depending on a final assessment in training.
Regarding forward Kai Havertz, who missed Germany’s recent matches due to a knee issue, Arteta said, “He had a few issues, but he’s been brilliant in communication with the national team, and if he trains well today, he has a good chance to be available.”