Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Gunners crisis set to ease as skipper targets major boost

After a damaging run of three Premier League games without a win, Arsenal could be boosted by the imminent return of captain Martin Odegaard from injury.

Arsenal have badly missed Odegaard but their injury crisis is easing, with Gabriel and Jurrien Timber and Ben White all fit again after a spate of injuries hit Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal's influential captain has been absent since suffering an ankle injury during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League win over Austria in September.

The good news is that Odegaard has recently returned to training and, despite missing out on the matchday squad at Newcastle at the weekend, Standard Sport understands he is pushing to be available for selection against Inter.

When writing in his programme notes ahead of the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on October 27, the midfielder revealed he was “close” to a return when providing an update on his fitness.

Boost: Martin Odegaard is closing in on a return to action

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“I’ve been out for a few weeks now, and have been working hard to get back as soon as possible,” he wrote. "As I said in my notes on Tuesday, I feel like it’s close now, but although I haven’t been involved in the games lately, I feel I’ve still been able to use that time pretty well too.

"Hopefully I can come out of this period fresher and stronger and ready for the rest of the season. That’s the aim now, look at the positives and use this time in a good way. When I’m back I’m going to be feeling pretty good, I’m sure."

Arsenal are due to hold an open training session on Tuesday morning before they fly out to Italy, and Odegaard will hope to be involved.

Potential return date: Wednesday 6 November 2024 vs Inter

Riccardo Calafiori

After being forced off during the 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk last month, Calafiori has missed Arsenal's last three games against Liverpool, Preston and Newcastle.

The Italian is unlikely to feature for the Gunners before the November international break after Arteta revealed his big-money summer signing would "be out for a few weeks”.

Fortunately for Arsenal, they have plenty of options to cover for Calafiori at left-back with Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Potential return date: Unknown

Takehiro Tomiyasu

No sooner did Tomiyasu return to action then he was back on the sidelines, after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury six minutes into his first appearance of the season against Southampton last month.

His return date remains unclear but Arteta has confirmed the versatile defender will not play again before the November international break.

Potential return date: Unknown

Kieran Tierney

The forgotten man at Arsenal has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury at Euro 2024.

It remains to be seen how much of a role, if any, Tierney will have for the Gunners before the January transfer window opens but he is expected take part in first-team training fairly soon.

"I think he's quite close," Arteta revealed last week. "He's looking really good. I think he's over the period where he was still struggling, so he looks really sharp out there.

“He hasn't trained with the team yet but hopefully, he can do that in the next week or two."

Potential return date: Unknown