Arsenal news: Blow for Arteta after latest Odegaard injury update

Norway manager Stale Solbakken has cast doubt on Martin Odegaard's imminent return, stating the Arsenal midfielder is still "some distance away" from full fitness as he recovers from a knee injury.

The 2025–26 season has been challenging for Odegaard. After dealing with two separate shoulder injuries early in the campaign, he suffered a significant knee problem in October that has kept him on the sidelines.

While Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently offered a more optimistic outlook, suggesting his star midfielder was "not far off" a return alongside teammates Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli, Solbakken's assessment during the November international break was more cautious.

"[Ødegaard’s recovery] is steady," Solbakken explained. "It is going in a steady direction but he is some distance away."

Arsenal has permitted the 27-year-old to split his rehabilitation between the club and the Norwegian national team, a similar arrangement to that of Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez.

"He will fly in [to Oslo] after his rehab on Thursday," Solbakken confirmed.

"Then he will continue his rehab with us and will be with us from Thursday afternoon... until Milan [on Nov. 16]."

Initial hopes that Odegaard might be back for the north London derby have faded, with reports last month indicating he would be out until at least after the international break.

The player himself has acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his comeback, stating that setting a specific date was "tricky" and that his progress on the training pitch would be the deciding factor.