Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie latest news and return dates | OneFootball

As two return to action, the Gunners are hit with two fresh blows

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Arsenal have picked up two new injury blows but have been able to welcome back star man Bukayo Saka.

Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point at home to Manchester City with an injury-time equaliser, but earlier in the game Noni Madueke was forced off with a fitness concern. That, in turn, allowed Bukayo Saka to make his own return from injury.

There was also good news for William Saliba, who started the game, but captain Martin Odegaard remains sidelined after his latest shoulder issue and summer signing Piero Hincapie was a no-show for the matchday squad to face City.

Down and out: Martin Odegaard

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Martin Odegaard

For the second time during the early weeks of the season, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Having only recently returned for a shoulder injury, Odegaard was forced off hurt after only 18 minutes against Nottingham Forest earlier a little over a week ago. Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta confirmed his skipper’s latest setback was “very similar,” to the injury picked up against Leeds in August.

Writing in his matchday programme notes before Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Odegaard bemoaned his "really bad luck", and gave no update on a possible return.

He wrote: "My shoulder was very sore, but I’ve just been taking it day by day this week, working hard to hopefully be ready in time for today’s game. It’s the same shoulder that I hurt in the Leeds United game, pretty much the same injury again, so it’s just really bad luck.

"The first injury had healed really well, I was over it – but then the same thing happened again. It had never happened to me in 11 years, but then it happens twice in two weeks so it’s a strange one, and very unfortunate."

Asked for an update a few hours later, Arteta simply confirmed that Odegaard "wasn’t fit enough to be [on the bench]".

Potential return date: Sunday, September 28 vs Newcastle (A)

Blow: Noni Madueke

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Noni Madueke

Mikel Arteta confirmed that Noni Madueke picked up an injury during the draw with Manchester City.

Eyebrows were raised when Madueke was withdrawn at half-time, having been the Gunners’ most potent attacking threat during an otherwise frustrating first half.

But, speaking after the game, Arteta revealed that Madueke suffered an injury during the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, and was unable to continue after the break.

The Arsenal manager said after the game: "He had an issue very early in the match and he wasn't well enough to continue."

Potential return date: Unknown

Piero Hincapie

Summer signing Piero Hincapie with a surprise absentee from the matchday squad on Sunday.

The defender was an injury-time introduction against Athletic Club during the week but a no-show for the visit of Manchester City at the weekend.

Asked for an update before the 1-1 draw, Arteta said: “Martin Odegaard wasn’t fit enough to be [on the bench], Piero as well, he’s out of the squad, but thankfully we have Bukayo [Saka] back. That’s what we want, we have a strong bench.”

It remains to be seen what the true nature of Hincapie’s absence is.

Potential return date: Unknown

Out: Piero Hincapie

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Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz is now “walking freely” as he continues his recovery from a knee injury, which required surgery last month.

Arteta said recently: “He's looking really good, he's walking freely. He's starting to load the knee and started to do some bits. As I said before, I think we’re taking it from weeks to months. But knowing Kai, I cannot give you any timescale because I know what he's going to try to do.

“So I think he's in a good moment. It was a very tough decision for him to go and have that procedure done. But I think it was necessary and it was the right decision from the medical team to persuade him to do that.”

Potential return date: November

Gabriel Jesus

Brazilian striker has been giving Arsenal fans periodic updates on his return to from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury, and is now able to do individual ball work.

But a return to first-team action remains a few months off.

Arsenal did not name Jesus in their Champions League squad for the League Phase, which runs until the end of January, and Arteta recently confirmed that the expectation is that the forward will not return to full training until December or January.

Arteta said earlier in September: “[Jesus] had major surgery that was going to take him many, many months.

“So, after discussing that with the medical staff and understanding the schedule that we had and when we thought that he could be available, that it would be between December and January, we decided to make that call, like we've done in the past with other players.

“Hopefully, we did it wrong and he comes back earlier. But at the moment, the provision was very clear.”

Potential return date: December/January