Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, is on track for a return to action, with his recovery from an ankle injury progressing smoothly.
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According to Norway manager Stale Solbakken, Odegaard’s rehabilitation is “going to plan,” and both Arsenal and Norway are hopeful he will be available for key matches in November.
Odegaard sustained the injury during an international match in September, and it has sidelined him for over six weeks.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is optimistic that Odegaard will return before the upcoming international break, scheduled between November 10 and November 18.
Stale Solbakken recently provided a positive update on Odegaard’s recovery, suggesting that the final stages of his rehabilitation will involve training with opponents and participating in full team sessions.
“Everything indicates that things are going according to plan,” Solbakken told VG. He also expressed hope that Odegaard would be fit enough to rejoin Norway for their international fixtures in November.
Before that, however, Odegaard will need to be match-ready for Arsenal’s crucial upcoming fixtures. The Gunners face a challenging period, with three major games in just eight days.
On November 2, Arsenal will face Newcastle United in the Premier League, followed by a crucial Champions League clash with Inter Milan on November 6, and then a Premier League match against Chelsea on November 10.
Arsenal will be counting on their captain’s leadership and playmaking ability as they navigate these key fixtures.
However, Odegaard will miss Arsenal’s upcoming match against Liverpool this Sunday. The clash with their Premier League title rivals comes too soon for the midfielder, who is still in the final stages of recovery.
Arsenal are eager to get back to winning ways after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Bournemouth, a match that saw William Saliba controversially sent off.
Odegaard later described the decision to send off Saliba as “strange,” commenting that the initial yellow card should have sufficed.
Speaking about his recovery, Odegaard revealed that he has been working diligently to return to full fitness.
“I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like [against Shakhtar Donetsk] just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible,” he said.
He also shared insights into the challenges of recovering from an ankle injury, explaining that progress has been steady but not without its setbacks.
“Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general, it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.”
Odegaard has been focused on regaining strength and mobility, including working on an anti-gravity treadmill, which allowed him to start running again while minimizing stress on his injured ankle.
“That was a good feeling, helping me get back to moving in a normal way, and being able to run after not being able to do that,” Odegaard added, signaling his readiness to return to Arsenal’s squad as soon as possible.