Martin Ødegaard Nearing Surprise North London Derby Return After Impressing Arsenal Staff With Rapid Recovery
The Gunners captain, Martin Odegaard, could be on the verge of a sensational return to the lineup for the crucial North London derby.
A swift recovery potentially positions him to feature prominently in the showdown against their rivals, a welcome boost for the Gunners ahead of the high-stakes encounter.
After being sidelined for the past seven matches due to injury, and experiencing an uneven start to the 2025-26 season, the influential Norwegian midfielder is on track to provide a significant lift for manager Mikel Arteta as they prepare to face Tottenham at home.
The Gunners are gearing up to host Spurs at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday. There were concerns that Odegaard would be unavailable for this crucial match due to a knee issue, which has hampered his ability to reach his best form and conditioning this season.
However, reports from The Sun suggest that the 26-year-old is making remarkable progress and could be available to play against their biggest rivals.
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This could mark only his eighth appearance overall this season, and just his seventh in the Premier League.
Arteta will be optimistically anticipating a positive outcome, as Arsenal will likely be without their key forward Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish international sustained a hamstring injury against Burnley on November 1st, sidelining him from both club and international duty.
Adding to Arsenal’s injury woes, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz are currently unavailable. Gabriel Jesus is making progress in his recovery from knee ligament damage and has resumed training.
Furthermore, commanding defender Gabriel Magalhaes is predicted to be absent for at least a month due to an injury sustained while playing for Brazil.
Although Odegaard has recently been limited to spectating, he travelled to Oslo during the international break to witness Norway secure their place in their first World Cup since 1998. Erling Haaland celebrated his success by extending his goal tally in that campaign to 16.
Following Norway’s emphatic 4-1 triumph over Estonia, Odegaard joined the jubilant celebrations on the field. He expressed his elation on social media, stating: “We’ve been envisaging moments like this since childhood. We have been toiling relentlessly.
We have encountered setbacks and disappointments… But we remained persistent. Never loose hope, faith, or cohesion.”
This team’s journey has been forged in resilience, weathering the storm of challenging times together. That’s what makes reaching this point so incredibly rewarding.
I’m immensely honored to be a member of this squad, to represent Norway, and to wear the Norwegian colors at the World Cup! It’s proof that dedication and unwavering belief can transform aspirations into reality.
To all the young people out there with dreams of their own. Remember, we were once in your shoes. So, let your imaginations soar and commit yourselves to hard work – the sky’s the limit.
A massive thank you to everyone who celebrated with us recently and for the outpouring of support we’ve felt. It’s truly invaluable. Let’s savor this achievement, but our ambition doesn’t end here.
Tottenham’s Attacker, Kolo Muani will be wearing a mask when he plays
Meanwhile, across North London, Tottenham is eagerly anticipating the potential return of Randal Kolo Muani.
The French attacker has been participating in training sessions, sporting a protective face covering.
Following a jaw injury sustained during Spurs’ thrilling 2-2 stalemate against Manchester United, early reports suggested a lengthy absence of up to two months.
Fortunately, he avoided the need for surgical intervention and is now available for selection, should the coaching staff deem it necessary.
In a memorable North London Derby from 2016, Tottenham’s prolific goalscorer, Harry Kane, famously donned a protective face covering against rivals Arsenal following a nasal fracture.
He dramatically shed the mask while jubilantly marking a spectacular goal at White Hart Lane.
Looking ahead, Thomas Frank faces a selection headache. He will definitely be without the services of the sidelined James Maddison.
Adding to his woes, the creative spark of Dejan Kulusevski and the attacking prowess of Dominic Solanke are also unavailable.
The participation of Mohammed Kudus is uncertain after he was absent from Ghana’s international fixtures during the November break.
Further complicating matters, Pape Matar Sarr sustained a minor injury during Senegal’s friendly encounter with Brazil, potentially sidelining him for a pivotal showdown against league leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners currently command a four-point advantage atop the Premier League table after eleven matches this campaign.
