Martin Odegaard has provided a positive injury update ahead of Arsenal’s match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Arsenal v Spurs early team news
Martin Odegaard has had a frustrating start to the 2025/26 campaign so far, repeatedly returning from injury setbacks only to get injured again.
All three of the midfielder’s injuries so far came from freak clashes with opponents, so it really seems like he’s just been unlucky so far. But the latest knee injury ruled the 26-year-old out from October 4th until now.
The good news is that Arsenal’s club captain appears to be closing in on a comeback now, which would be particularly timely considering this weekend’s game is the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
“This week I’ve been working really hard on my rehab – it’s going very well,” Odegaard said in his pre-match programme notes. “I can feel I’m getting closer every day and getting towards the final stages where it’s a lot more exciting.
“I’ve been doing some pitch work and training, so I really feel like I’m getting there. That’s the best part of the rehab, when you’re getting closer to joining the team, you can do a lot more on the pitch and you can be more aggressive in the rehab.
“I feel like I’m getting stronger and stronger. I can’t wait to be back now, we’re on a good path and it’s looking good. I’m really excited.
“I guess that’s one of the good things about being injured. You get hungrier and more excited to play football again. That’s the good part of it, I’m desperate to get going again.”
Elsewhere, Noni Madueke’s fitness coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst has given an update on the winger’s injury comeback, suggesting the player will also be back imminently.
“From what I know, it’s imminent,” Isaksson-Hurst said. “He should be back in contention very soon.
“I think it was anticipated having two months off, originally we talked about maybe going and doing some stuff in this international break, he wasn’t quite ready, but I think he’s there or thereabouts. He should be back quite soon.”
Getting two or three players back from injury ahead of a week involving games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea would be a big boost for the squad.