Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is expected to be available for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City this Sunday.
The 27-year-old has been missing since the end of February, but is now closing in on a return from a knee injury.
👀 MARTIN ODEGAARD or EBERECHI EZE, which Arsenal midfielder should Mikel Arteta start in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley?
Eberechi Eze has been given a run in the team in his absence; however, the midfielder hasn’t exactly made a clear case to start at Wembley Stadium.
Odegaard is now set to be back for the cup final, which hands Mikel Arteta a welcome dilemma ahead of the clash against City in the first major final of the season.
Martin Odegaard set to make Arsenal return for Carabao Cup final
Martin Odegaard is set to make his return for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City this Sunday, according to James McNicholas.
The Norwegian international has been targeting the Wembley final over the last few weeks, and he should be fine to feature against Pep Guardiola’s team.
Speaking about the midfielder’s return, McNicholas told Arsecast: “So I think that game will have been a target for him over the last few weeks.
“The latest I heard was a conversation I had about a week ago, where I was told he should be fine for that.”
Call it now, will Mikel Arteta’s record be intact after the Carabao Cup final?
Odegaard was not training with Arsenal on Monday ahead of facing Bayer Leverkusen and will need to return in the next few days to stand any chance.
Kai Havertz has become another option in the number ten role, especially with Viktor Gyokeres enjoying a strong run in the number nine role.
Arteta will now likely have Odegaard, Eze or Havertz to pick from as the player to start behind the Swede at Wembley this weekend.
Eberechi Eze’s Wembley record should allow him to keep his Arsenal spot
Arteta has a 100 per cent win record at Wembley, but Eze also has an impressive record at the national stadium, which could make him the favourite to start.
The attacker has four goals in his last five matches at Wembley for both England and Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old was the hero in the FA Cup final against City back in May and could now be the perfect option this time around for the Gunners.
However, he has not been in great form since Odegaard’s injury, scoring just three goals since the end of November.
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