Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is expected to recover from a knee injury only after the November international break. The midfielder suffered a medial collateral ligament injury during the Gunners' win over West Ham United on October 4th and had to be substituted off in the first half.
Arsenal released a statement the following day, confirming that Odegaard would miss the current international window, but did not specify a timeline for his recovery.
However, the 26-year-old player is anticipated to be available for selection only after the next round of international matches in mid-November.
This news means Odegaard will miss Premier League games against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland, as well as Champions League fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague.
Given Odegaard's importance to the team, the news is undoubtedly a blow for head coach Mikel Arteta.
Odegaard has been plagued by injuries since the start of the season, with the midfielder having been forced off in the first half of three consecutive Premier League matches.
Arsenal will face North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur immediately after next month's international break, and it remains to be seen whether Odegaard can recover in time for the derby on November 23rd.
Norway secured a 5-0 victory over their opponent on Saturday, taking a crucial step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. If they qualify for next summer's World Cup, it will be their first major international tournament since 2000.
