Martin Odegaard update amid injury setback claims | OneFootball

Though claims of a setback have been denied, Martin Odegaard isn’t expected to return to the pitch until November, according to a report.

Norway’s Martin Odegaard and Austria’s Philipp Lienhart vie for the ball during the UEFA Nations League, League B, Group B3 football match Norway vs Austria at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway on September 9, 2024. (Photo by TERJE PEDERSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

On Friday, unconfirmed social media rumours started doing the rounds that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard had suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, and that he’d be out until December.

That was certainly a shock to the fans, with some hoping that the player might be back as soon as this month.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal hands the Captains armband to Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Emirates Stadium on August 31, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Football insider Team News and Ticks has moved to quell those fears, reporting on Patreon that three sources have confirmed that the player has not suffered a setback.

Sky Sports News have since confirmed that the Arsenal captain hasn’t suffered a setback.

Even so, the player is not expected back until November, so any hopes of a speedy return after the international break are likely to be dashed.

Arsenal face Bournemouth, Shakhtar Donetsk, Liverpool, and Preston North End in October, and it seems Odegaard will be unavailable for all three of those matches.

The Gunners then play Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Sporting CP, and West Ham United in November, and it’s unclear when exactly in that run Odegaard might return.

But it’s good news that the player is hoping to be back before December, with Arsenal kicking off the month against Manchester United and a strong Fulham side before playing a Champions League fixture against AS Monaco.

Norway’s coach Staale Solbakken (C) oversees a training session with Norway’s men’s national football team with Norway’s forward Erling Braut Haland (L) and Norway’s midfielder Martin Odegaard at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo on June 14, 2023 before the European Championship qualifiers against Scotland on June 17, 2023. (Photo by Fredrik Varfjell / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Odegaard gave fans some reason for optimism in his programme notes ahead of Arsenal’s last game, suggesting he’s making “good progress” and that “hopefully it won’t be much longer” until he’s back.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken seemed less positive about the player’s chances of a quick comeback, even if he did agree that Odegaard is making positive steps.

“There is great progress in relation to pain and injury, but he is a long way from playing matches,” Solbakken said, adding that Odegaard “is in Arsenal’s hands”.