Mikel Arteta confident Martin Ødegaard will be in squad to face Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is “confident” captain Martin Ødegaard (26) will return to the squad for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich, offering a timely boost as the club navigates a demanding spell on multiple fronts.

Ødegaard, sidelined since early October with a knee injury, trained with the first team ahead of the Bayern clash and is expected to be included in the matchday squad, according to reports from Sky Sports. Arteta confirmed that a final decision will be taken after a medical meeting but emphasised the Norwegian is “very close” to making his comeback.

There was further encouragement for Arsenal supporters as Arteta revealed that Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, both on the bench in the 4–1 win over Tottenham, are in contention to start. Their availability adds much-needed depth as Arsenal look to maintain momentum domestically and in Europe.

In attack, Arteta confirmed that strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz are progressing well in their recoveries and could return as early as Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea. “In the next few days they’ll have a repeat scan… we’ll see if we can push them for the weekend,” he said.

Gabriel Jesus is also nearing a comeback following his ACL injury, with plans for the Brazilian to feature in a behind-closed-doors match before returning to competitive action.

With several key figures close to full fitness, Arteta’s squad could soon be restored to near-full strength at a pivotal stage of the season.

GFN | Finn Entwistle