Timely boost for Arsenal as Odegaard nears return Daily Mail29 Oct 2024By SAMI MOKBEL MARTIN ODEGAARD is accelerating his recovery from an ankle injury to deliver a timely fitness boost to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. There is also hope that Gabriel and Jurrien Timber, who both limped off during Sunday’s draw with Liverpool, will not be long-term absentees. Gunners captain Odegaard has been missing since damaging ankle ligaments when playing for Norway in September. But the skipper is taking a big step towards full fitness, with the 25-year-old set to return to training on grass this week.
There is doubt over when Arteta will deem Odegaard to be fit for selection. If Odegaard plays before the next international break — which commences after the clash at Chelsea on November 10 — then Norway will be within their rights to call him up. Norway boss Stale Solbakken said this week that he ‘hopes’ Odegaard will be available. There will be apprehension at Arsenal about Odegaard reporting for international duty, but with tough fixtures against Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea on the horizon, Odegaard’s availability would arrive as a major boost.
Elsewhere, Gabriel is being assessed after taking a knock to the knee in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool. Early indications are that the Brazil international will not be a long-term casualty but he will have a definitive scan today. Timber complained of calf tightness after the game but there is hope it was just cramp. Arsenal are also yet to confirm the full extent of the knee injury suffered by Riccardo Calafiori but it is understood he will miss week
The 25-year-old’s return could not come at a better time, with Arsenal preparing for a tough run of fixtures against Newcastle, Inter Milan, and Chelsea.
While there is still some uncertainty over when Odegaard will be fit enough for selection, the midfielder’s recovery will be closely watched by both Arsenal and the Norwegian national team, as Norway manager Stale Solbakken has expressed hope of including him in the squad for the upcoming international break.
Elsewhere, Arsenal are also monitoring the fitness of Gabriel and Jurrien Timber, both of whom picked up knocks during the recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Early assessments suggest that neither injury is expected to be long-term.
Timber experienced calf tightness, which is believed to be cramp, while Gabriel is awaiting the results of a knee scan on Tuesday, though initial signs are promising.
Additionally, Riccardo Calafiori is expected to miss a few weeks after sustaining a knee injury, but fears of a long-term absence have been dismissed.
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