Arsenal: New Martin Odegaard injury timeline revealed as Man City final clash looms | OneFootball

Gunners captain has missed the last two matches with a lingering knee issue

Arsenal fans have received a mixed new injury update on Martin Odegaard.

Arteta explained ahead of the latter match that Odegaard was “still not feeling totally comfortable” with regards to a recent knee injury sustained in the draw with Brentford last month that had initially seen him miss games against Wolves and Wigan before he returned off the bench with an assist in the latest north London derby rout of Tottenham.

He likely would not have played this weekend anyway as Arsenal travel to face more League One opposition in Mansfield for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, though Odegaard’s national coach - Norway boss Stale Solbakken - insists there is nothing to worry about with regards to any serious injury.

However, he has appeared to suggest that the player may not return to action until late March at the earliest, before which Arsenal play both legs of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen.

They also host Everton in the Premier League and contest the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on March 22 before an international window in which World Cup-bound Norway play friendlies against both the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Struggle: It has been an injury-hit campaign so far for Gunners midfielder Odegaard

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“There is nothing serious about Martin,” Solbakken was quoted as telling Viaplay.

"The most important thing is that he recovers completely and is good for us in the summer.

"For those of us who care about the World Cup, it’s not a disaster that he’s getting some breaks now.

"He’s going to rebuild and be crucial for Arsenal in April-May and maybe late March."

Arteta is expected to ring the changes for Arsenal’s fifth-round trip to Mansfield on Saturday, with defenders William Saliba and Ben White remaining doubtful and Mikel Merino a long-term absentee.

There could be opportunities for the likes of youngsters Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, while Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, Christian Norgaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus will also be pushing to start.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended for one FA Cup match however after picking up two yellow cards in the earlier rounds.