When will Martin Odegaard return to Arsenal? Mikel Arteta updates 'crucial' stage of captain's recovery

Martin Odegaard has missed Arsenal's last seven games but is potentially getting closer to returning to action.

The captain of the gunners. has been out since early September having 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 was facing a prolonged stay on the bench.

OdegaardThe injury has caused him to miss the Premier League games against Tottenham. city ​​of manchesterLeicester and Southampton.

He was also absent in the first two Champions League games against Atalanta and Paris Saint Germaintogether with him Carabao Cup draw with Bolton.

But now there is light at the end of the tunnel…

When will Martin Odegaard return?

Arteta has given an update on the schedule surrounding OdegaardHe is returning from an injury.

It has been confirmed that the Norwegian will miss his eighth consecutive match as he will not play against Bournemouth.

However, he is now entering a critical part of his recovery.

At a press conference on Friday morning, arteta He revealed: “He won't be fit for this game (against Bournemouth).

“Next week will be a different story.

“In the later stages of his rehab, he needs to erase some markers, do some different things, especially with the ball.

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“Next week is crucial to see how close it is.”

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.

And now Arteta's comments will lift fans' spirits even more.

The gunners face off Liverpool in a big top-of-the-table clash next week, so having Odegaard back would be a big boost.

His only input on his situation came in his captain's column for Arsenal's matchday program before the international break.

Odegaard wrote: “I just wanted to start with the latest on my injury and my rehabilitation. In the last week I have made very good progress.

“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.

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“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.”

Now, after Arteta's update after the break, it looks like Odegaard's hard work is paying off and a return is near.

Despite the absence of their captain, 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.

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