Martin Odegaard has provided an update on his fitness amid Arsenal recovery(Image: Ryan Pierse - UEFA/Getty Images)

Martin Odegaard provides Arsenal injury update ahead of Liverpool clash to boost hope of return

22 Oct 2024, 16:11 by Tom Canton · football.london

Martin Odegaard remains out of the Arsenal team as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury suffered while on duty with Norway in the September international break. The Gunners have certainly suffered from a dip in creativity in his absence, worsened by Bukayo Saka also missing the match at Bournemouth which broke the club’s unbeaten start to the season.

Mikel Arteta addressed the media ahead of the Tuesday night clash with Shakhtar Donetsk and was quizzed on both Saka and Odegaard. He offered hope for the winger but sadly ruled out Odegaard.

“They are closer and both progressing really well,” he said. “Martin is still not fit. With Bukayo, let’s see how he feels today and in the training session that we have later on."

As captain, one of Odegaard’s roles is to fulfil the programme with his captain’s words. Perhaps his injury has allowed him more time to write these excerpts as the detail in this game’s edition has certainly been beneficial.

Especially when it begins with an update from the man himself on his injury situation. It does indeed appear that Odegaard is closing in on a return.

“I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible,” Odegaard wrote.

“I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. 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.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the gym, and was on an anti-gravity treadmill recently, which is really good because it takes the weight off. Especially at the beginning that was really good, to be running again like that when you’ve been offloading the leg and not using it as much as normal. 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.”

Arsenal’s next Premier League match is at home to Liverpool. Arteta described this week as being big in terms of grasping a better timeline for Odegaard but the arrival of Arne Slot’s side is likely too soon to see him in action but the clock is indeed ticking down to seeing the attacking midfielder in the starting XI again soon.

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