Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal plan for Martin Odegaard talks as Norway consider late decision | OneFootball

Odegaard was left out of the Norway squad but could still travel

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Arsenal and Norway will hold talks after Sunday’s game with Chelsea to decide whether Martin Odegaard heads off on international duty next week.

Odegaard made his comeback for Arsenal on Wednesday night, coming off the bench at Inter Milan for the final minutes to make his first appearance for the Gunners since August.

The Arsenal captain is hoping to start at Chelsea on Sunday for the first time since injuring his ankle playing for Norway at the start of September.

Norway are back in action next week - taking on Slovenia and Kazakhstan in the Nations League - and Odegaard was left out of the squad that was named on Tuesday.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken said, however, that Odegaard could still join up with the squad and Arteta has confirmed talks will take place after Sunday’s game at Chelsea.

Martin Odegaard returned in the defeat to Inter Milan

AFP via Getty Images

“Let’s see how he goes, how he trains tomorrow,” said Arteta. “He’s available, he’s fit, if he does play, how he feels after that and then we will make the decision between the three parties.”

Arsenal have struggled for creativity in the absence of Odegaard, scoring just six times in their last six games.

The Gunners have also lost three of those six matches, but Arteta says they cannot expect Odegaard to solve all their problems.

“I think demanding that is not very realistic,” said Arteta. “It’s about the collective and every player taking ownership of what we have to do in attack and doing it better more consistently.

“But certainly, having a player like Martin helps because he’s shown how important he’s been for us in the last two-three years.

“We hope that is going to help because he’s been incredibly good for us. Not only the impact he has on the team in that phase, but in other phases that are so linked to the attacking phase.

“Especially the way we transition from on to the other. He’s been out for a while, so let’s hope he can impact the team very quickly. That’s the way I think.”

Arteta likes to keep injured players close to the team even when they are out injured - involving them in meetings and analysis - and that has been the case with Odegaard this time around, too.

“He’s always very close and active with the team,” said Arteta. “He knows the role and responsibilities he has.

“He tried his best but not having him in the squad, in the hotel with us on many occasions, it is different. But the team, when we talk about motivation, had no issues at all.”

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