LONDON — Arsenal’s captain Martin Odegaard is nearing the completion of his rehabilitation process following an ankle injury that has sidelined him for almost two months, as reported by manager Mikel Arteta on Friday.

Arteta confirmed that Odegaard will not participate in the upcoming Premier League match against Newcastle on Saturday. However, he did not dismiss the possibility of the midfielder rejoining the squad for their Champions League match against Inter Milan the following Wednesday.
“We are at the stage where he will begin to engage in certain activities with us. We will monitor how he responds to the pain and whether his movement appears natural,” said Arteta.

He added, “Physically, he has reached the required level for competition. Given his work ethic and the hours he has dedicated to his recovery, I would be surprised if he doesn’t look ready to contribute once he starts training with the team. We hope it will be very soon.”
Odegaard’s injury occurred during a Nations League match for Norway on September 9, and his absence has been felt in the team, as Arsenal has struggled without his creativity and leadership. Currently sitting in third place, Arsenal is trailing leaders Manchester City by five points, having secured only one point from their last two outings.
In addition, Arteta mentioned that left-back Riccardo Calafiori will also miss the game against Newcastle due to injury, while defender Gabriel could return to the lineup if he performs well during Friday’s training session.