Martin Odegaard has provided a reassuring update on his recovery from an ankle injury after Norway manager Stale Solbakken’s recent comments caused concern. The Arsenal captain suffered ligament damage during the international break last month, leading to fears of an extended absence. While Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta initially suggested Odegaard’s return would take weeks rather than months, Solbakken’s statement this week indicated the midfielder was still far from being ready for national team duty.
Despite this, Odegaard has moved to calm the anxiety surrounding his injury, sharing an optimistic update on his progress. Speaking in Arsenal’s matchday programme ahead of their clash with Southampton, the 25-year-old explained that his recovery was going well, with his condition improving each day. He said:
“I’ve made really good progress over the past week or so. I’m getting better every day, and when you feel things are moving forward, it motivates you to push harder and work more.”
Although Arsenal have remained unbeaten in the six games Odegaard has missed, winning four of them, Arteta acknowledged the absence of his influential captain. The manager praised his team’s ability to adapt but emphasized the challenge of replacing Odegaard’s impact on the field.
“The impact Martin has on everything we do is too significant to be replicated by one player,” Arteta said. “We’ve had to adapt and make some changes to play to other players’ strengths, and while it took a game or two to find our flow, we’ve managed. But we still miss him a lot—he’s one of our most important players.”
Odegaard’s positive outlook and steady progress suggest he could return to action sooner rather than later, much to the relief of Arsenal fans and teammates.
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