Martin Odegaard is currently working his way back to full fitness.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been sidelined since the last international break.
Mikel Arteta’s side have coped well without the Norwegian playmaker, remaining unbeaten in his absence.
Gabriel Martinelli has stepped up, whilst Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz have all made vital contributions in the final third.
Meanwhile, Odegaard has stepped up his recovery regime, and has made use of an ‘anti-gravity’ treadmill to resume running.
However, the Norwegian media have reported that Odegaard is still some way from returning to action.
Arsenal have fitness target for Martin Odegaard
Arteta is taking an extremely cautious approach with the 25-year-old’s rehabilitation. The former Real Madrid man is so important to Arsenal that they won’t risk aggravating his issue by bringing him back into the fold too soon.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider: “I was told from the off with Odegaard that they’re not going to rush him. They want to make sure when he comes back that he’s 100%… I was told fully fit – fully, fully fit – by Christmas, was the realistic target.
“That might mean he’s back weeks before that… The chances are he’ll be back in November. That’s the hope and the belief at this point. To get fully fit, that’s a different kettle of fish.”
Whilst Arteta expects Odegaard to be available to play before Christmas, there is a recognition that it may take the midfielder until that stage of the year to recover his full fitness after his spell on the sidelines.
How Mikel Arteta will manage without Odegaard
As Odegaard is likely to miss a number of further fixtures, Arteta will still be coming up for plans for how to get by without the skipper.
Hale End academy wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri will be hoping for more game time whilst Odegaard is injured, whilst the return to fitness of Mikel Merino has given the manager a welcome extra option in the middle of the park.
Trossard has combined with Havertz well whilst deputising for Odegaard in a more central role too.
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