Arsenal fans receive worrying update on Martin Odegaard's return despite training footage
Martin Odegaard has shared footage of himself running, but Arsenal fans have been told he is still “a long way away” from returning to action.
The Gunners captain has been out since the beginning of September after suffered ankle ligament damage while on international duty with Norway.
Boss Mikel Arteta confirmed that the 25-year-old had suffered a 'significant' setback and faced a prolonged stay on the sidelines.
odegaardThe injury has forced him to miss Premier League games against Tottenham, Manchester City, Leicester and Southampton.
He was also absent from the first two Champions League games against Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the Carabao Cup tie against Bolton.
Arsenal Supporters received a boost when both Odegaard and the club shared footage of him running on an anti-gravity treadmill, suggesting his return may not be far away.
With games against Liverpool, Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea on the horizon, Gooners were optimistic they could feature in the tough run of fixtures.
However, recent statements by Norway coach Stale Solbakken suggest that those fans will have to continue waiting for their captain's return.
Solbakken commented on the midfielder's fitness ahead of his team's Nations League clash against Slovenia on Thursday night.
Quoted by a Norwegian media outlet. Dagsavisen. He said: “There is a lot of progress in relation to pain and injuries, but it is a long way from playing games.”
He then stated that Odegaard's return is “in Arsenal's hands”, before being asked when the player could return to the pitch.
To which he stated: “I don't think anyone knows, and I don't think he himself knows.”
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Solbakken's comments come just days after Odegaard offered an optimistic message in his captain's column during last Saturday's matchday programme.
He wrote: “Just wanted to start with the latest on my injury and my rehab. In the last week I have progressed very well.
“I'm getting better every day and I feel like everything is going well.
“When you feel that things are moving forward, you are motivated to do more and more and work harder.
“Today is our last game before another international break, so that also gives me more time to work on rehabilitation.
“Hopefully it won't be too long; I think we'll know more once I get out on the training pitches and see how my ankle responds.
“At the moment he is progressing well and looks better than we thought, but we still have to take each day as it comes.”
Despite Odegaard's absence, Arsenal remain unbeaten in all competitions in their ten games this season.
They sit third in the Premier League table, one point behind leaders Liverpool, while they have also picked up four points in Europe, as well as safely progressing to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
