Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has not played for the club since August, but he is now nearing a return.
Odegaard picked up an ankle injury whilst playing for Norway in the September international break, and he has been absent since.
The 25-year-old has been out for a significant period, but he has put that time to good use, which should now aid his comeback.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal walks from the tunnel during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint…
Mikel Arteta praises Martin Odegaard injury rehabilitation
Speaking in his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle, Arteta revealed that when Odegaard does make his return, the work he did during his injury should allow him to hit the ground running.
“Now is the stage when he [Odegaard] will do certain work with us,” Arteta stated.
“Let’s see how he deals with pain. If he moves naturally enough, if he is physically now at the level that requires him to compete.
“But with the workrate and the hours he’s put in, I would be surprised that the moment he starts training with us, we don’t say that he looks ready. So hopefully [he returns] soon.”
Martin Odegaard can make seamless Arsenal return
Whenever players return from long injury layoffs, they often require some time to build up their fitness and match sharpness.
However, Arteta’s comments indicate that Odegaard, who admitted that he still goes to the training ground every day, worked hard to ensure that he was in good condition apart from his ankle.
This should hopefully give him a boost when he does return to the Arsenal side, and it could mean that Odegaard hits the ground running instantly when he comes back into the team, without needing an adjustment period.
Odegaard started the season slowly prior to his injury, but his return is a much-needed one to give Arsenal extra creativity, which they have sometimes lacked in his absence.
Leave a Reply