Arsenal visit Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, and Mikel Arteta has issued an injury update ahead of the clash.
The Gunners will be looking to respond to their disappointing draw against Manchester City last weekend by claiming all three points on Tyneside.
Arteta’s team eased past Port Vale on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup, resting several key players in the process.
They face a Newcastle side who have scored just three Premier League goals this season, but who have also only conceded three times across five matches.
Mikel Arteta provides Martin Odegaard injury update
Martin Odegaard sustained a shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest two weeks ago and hasn’t been in action since.
The Norwegian suffered an almost identical setback against Leeds in August, and it appears he simply aggravated this issue the second time around.
The diagnosis of the Arsenal captain’s injury hasn’t been made clear in public, although Arteta did provide some clarity on Friday afternoon in his press conference.
The Spaniard revealed that Odegaard will train with the Gunners squad before the game at St. James’ Park and that he’s hopeful that the player will be available for the encounter.
“Martin will be training with us in the next two days, so hopefully he will be available for the game,” Arteta said.
It’s possible that the Arsenal manager won’t risk his skipper in a game of such magnitude, even if he is deemed fit enough to play.
The tactician has the likes of Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Ethan Nwaneri, who can play in Odegaard’s role if needed.
What Mikel Arteta said about Bukayo Saka’s fitness ahead of Newcastle
Bukayo Saka returned to action during Arsenal’s game against City.
The Gunners’ talisman had been nursing a hamstring injury sustained against Leeds back in August, but was able to complete 45 minutes off the bench against the Citizens last Sunday.
Noni Madueke is now expected to miss two months of football with a knee problem, meaning Saka is likely to start against Newcastle and in several games after this.
The Hale End graduate was hooked on the hour mark against Port Vale, but Arteta reassured fans in his press conference that this wasn’t because of another setback and that the player is ready to go on Tyneside.
“Nothing to report there,” Arteta said on Saka.
“I think he played the games we anticipated. He feels good. He will be training the next two days.”
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