18 November 2023 , 22:16
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Martin Odegaard is expected to return from injury in Arsenal’s first Premier League match after the international break.
Odegaard has missed the last three games with a hip injury and missed international duty with Norway while he recovers. He last played in the 3-1 loss against West Ham in the Carabao Cup, when he came off the bench to score a late consolation goal.
Mikel Arteta has been without his captain throughout November, but has been given some good news ahead of the next game, against Brentford on Saturday. Norway boss Stale Solbakken gave an update on Odegaard ahead of his side’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Scotland on Sunday.
"I've just come from a 45-minute talk with Martin," Solbakken told a press conference. "He is getting better and better and gradually stepping up. It has been more or less three weeks without any special training, so it is important to take things step by step. Both he and Arsenal probably hope that he is available for the Brentford match.”
Odegaard has five goals and one assist in 15 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners this season. He has been a key player for Arteta, who has been forced to reconfigure his midfield in his absence.
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As well as struggling with a hip injury, Odegaard missed the 1-0 loss against Newcastle after failing a concussion test following a blow to the face with a ball in training. Football.london reports that he trained at London Colney on Tuesday and, barring any changes, will be fit to face the Bees.
Speaking before the international break, Solbakken said: "We have known for quite some time that Martin will not come. But it must be coordinated with Arsenal, and for as long as they tried to get him healthy and ready, we were quite sure that it would not work.
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“When the club is so reserved, I don't know how right it is for me to talk about it. It is a common football injury from which he will probably recover very well and which is not career-threatening. It is in the bone."
Speaking before the West Ham game, Arteta said of Odegaard: “We rested him the other day, so it’s how long we rest him for and how we manage the minutes and the rhythm that he needs to be at his best. We had the opportunity to [rest him] and we didn’t use him in the end.
“It’s impossible to play with no niggles in football, and at this level, when you have games every three days, it’s impossible. If you try to do that, you better stay in bed, because I don’t know any players who are constantly perfect and in the best possible condition, so you have to adapt to that.”