Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has admitted he was initially “scared” by the severity of the ankle injury he suffered earlier this month while on international duty with Norway.

The 25-year-old has since revealed he is making progress but remains cautious about putting a timeline on his return to action.

In his captain’s notes for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers, Ødegaard opened up about the injury, writing, “I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me.”

The midfielder suffered ligament damage during Norway’s match against Austria, which left him fearing the worst. However, subsequent assessments have shown that the injury isn’t as severe as first thought.

Ødegaard has missed key matches against Atalanta, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur since sustaining the injury, with Mikel Arteta initially confirming that the midfielder would be sidelined “for a while.”

Despite this, Ødegaard remains optimistic about his recovery, stating, “I’m moving forward, making progress, and I’m feeling more positive every day.”

The Arsenal captain detailed his daily routine, explaining that he has been working hard at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, saying, “I’m at the training centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can to get better.” While eager to return, Ødegaard acknowledged the importance of patience, noting that he has to “be careful not to push it too much.”

Norwegian national team manager Ståle Solbakken has also spoken about Ødegaard’s injury, revealing that Norway is preparing “with and without him” for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Austria. Solbakken remains hopeful that his captain might still feature, while Arsenal’s medical team continues to monitor the situation closely.

Arteta’s most recent comments suggested a slightly more optimistic outlook, stating, “I think it will be a matter of weeks, but how long exactly, I cannot tell you.” However, he also indicated that it’s unlikely Ødegaard will return before the next international break.

Ødegaard’s return would be a significant boost for Arsenal, who face a demanding fixture schedule in the coming weeks, including matches against Liverpool at the end of October, followed by away games against Newcastle United, Inter Milan, and Chelsea in early November.