Mikel Arteta has faced a challenging season with Arsenal so far, having to navigate a series of injury setbacks across various competitions, including the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup.
These fitness issues have affected key players and forced the manager to adjust his squad frequently, impacting Arsenal’s rhythm as they look to compete on multiple fronts.
In their recent Premier League clash, Arsenal was held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea.
This result had a significant effect on the league standings, widening the gap between Arsenal and league leaders Liverpool to nine points.
Liverpool’s victory over Aston Villa the day before had already increased the pressure on Arsenal, and while the team managed to salvage a point, they couldn’t gain ground on the title race leaders.
Despite the frustration of dropping points, there was a bright spot for the Gunners.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard made his first start in months, returning to the lineup after an extended absence due to an ankle injury.
Ødegaard initially sustained this injury during international duty with Norway back in September and had been out of action for 12 games across all competitions.
The match against Chelsea marked his full return, where he played the entire 90 minutes.
Prior to his start against Chelsea, Ødegaard had been cautiously reintroduced to the pitch, coming on as a late substitute in Arsenal’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.
This brief appearance served as a warm-up, helping Ødegaard ease back into competitive play after his long recovery period.
His full involvement in the Chelsea game was a promising sign for Arsenal, as they rely heavily on his creativity and leadership in midfield.
However, it was revealed shortly after the Chelsea game that Ødegaard would not be joining the Norwegian national team during the upcoming international break.
Instead, he will continue his rehabilitation and fitness work with Arsenal.
According to Ødegaard, he has undergone a rigorous training program, but he’s still not at full fitness.
“When you haven’t played football for nine weeks, you’re not going to be 100 percent right away,” Ødegaard said in a statement released by the Norwegian FA.
He emphasized the importance of listening to his body and completing his recovery process.
His goal had been to participate in Norway’s national games, but he recognized that if he hadn’t been able to play the Chelsea game, competing for Norway would have been out of the question.
Arsenal is expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation once they return from the international break.
A likely lineup would include Raya in goal; White, Saliba, Gabriel, and Timber in defense; a midfield consisting of Saka, Rice, new signing Mikel Merino, and Martinelli; and Havertz and Jesus leading the line in attack.
This setup would allow Arteta to maximize his available talent and hopefully bring stability as key players like Ødegaard continue working toward full fitness.
