Arsenal Football Club is set to receive a significant boost in their Premier League campaign with the imminent return of star midfielder, Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian international has been sidelined since September due to an ankle ligament injury sustained while on duty for his country.
Stale Solbakken, Norway manager, recently provided an update on Odegaard's recovery. He revealed that the Arsenal midfielder is progressing well and could be fit by November’s international break. This news comes as a relief to Arsenal fans who have been eagerly awaiting his return.
Norway manager, Stale Solbakken, said:
"Everything indicates that things are going according to plan. So it's about the last steps when you have to train with opponents and in team training. It depends on how he responds to that, but we have a legitimate hope that he is ready. I have spoken to him quite regularly. Now that things are starting to move forward, it's easier, but it's no fun being injured. At the same time, he has rarely been injured, so it is probably a matter of training for him."
The attacking midfielder hasn't played for the Gunners since his injury in September. Despite winning six out of nine games during this period, Mikel Arteta’s side has noticeably lacked creativity without him. Earlier fears about potential setbacks were dismissed when Arteta hinted that his club captain was nearing full fitness. Now with Solbakken expressing optimism about including Odegaard in next month’s international fixtures, it seems like good news is around the corner for Arsenal fans.
Impact of Odegaard's return
Odegaard’s return will undoubtedly provide a massive lift for Arsenal who are hopefuls for this season’s Premier League title race. However, despite this positive development, he wasn't included in Tuesday's squad against Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League fixture and seems unlikely to feature against Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Arteta has already indicated that alongside Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori; Odegaard might miss out on Sunday’s crucial clash due to fitness concerns. Further compounding these issues are William Saliba's suspension following his red card against Bournemouth and potential absence of Jurrien Timber which would limit Arteta's options significantly.
Boost for Arsenal in title race
While there may be some disappointment about Odegaard's likely absence from the upcoming Liverpool clash, his imminent return is a positive development for Arsenal. His creativity and vision in midfield have been sorely missed, and his return will undoubtedly add a new dimension to Arsenal's attacking play.
While the Gunners may face some short-term challenges due to injuries and suspensions, the long-term outlook appears promising with key players like Odegaard nearing full fitness. As such, fans can look forward to an exciting season ahead as their team continues its quest for Premier League glory.
