Arsenal have been handed a glimmer of hope as Martin Odegaard's injury reportedly may not be as severe as first feared. The Gunners' captain is undergoing further assessments following an initially promising scan; however, he remains a doubt for the upcoming North London derby against arch-rivals Tottenham.
While no definitive timeline has been established for Odegaard's return, Arsenal's medical team is cautiously optimistic that he won't miss a substantial number of key fixtures, including their Champions League clash with Atalanta and a vital showdown with Manchester City, according to The Mirror.
Odegaard picked up an ankle injury during international duty for Norway in their Nations League match against Austria on Monday night, casting a shadow over his upcoming club commitments.
Norway's team doctor Ole Sand has anticipated a three-week absence for such injuries, telling Norwegian media outlets: "Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus. And then it can take longer."
National coach Stale Solbakken even feared that Odegaard might be sidelined for the upcoming international games next month.
On a positive note, Sand added: "What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle."
After flying back to England, Odegaard had a scan in Hertfordshire on Tuesday and is no longer under Norwegian FA care.
Arsenal have received a significant boost with scans revealing no fracture for Odegaard, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation. The potential loss of the influential player for several weeks or even a month would have been a severe setback for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, will address the media on Friday, where it is expected he will confirm Odegaard's absence from the upcoming Tottenham match. However, an official announcement has not yet been made.
As the club continue their assessments, they will be eager for Odegaard to return as soon as possible, especially with new signing Mikel Merino sidelined for six-to-eight weeks due to a shoulder fracture sustained in training.
In another blow, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is suspended for the North London derby, leaving Arteta with a significant selection dilemma. However, there is some positive news as Gabriel Jesus could be poised for a comeback following his injury.
