Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is unlikely to return to action until after the November international break as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
The midfielder sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over West Ham on October 4, forcing him off the pitch in the first half.
The club confirmed the following day that Ødegaard would miss the current international window, though they stopped short of providing a clear timeline for his recovery.
However, the 26-year-old is now expected to remain sidelined until mid-November, ruling him out of several important fixtures.
He will miss Premier League matches against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Sunderland, along with Champions League group-stage clashes against Atlético Madrid and Slavia Prague.
The extended absence is a setback for manager Mikel Arteta, who relies heavily on Ødegaard’s leadership and creativity in midfield.
His start to the season has been disrupted by persistent injury issues, having been forced off early in three straight Premier League appearances before this latest setback.
Arsenal are scheduled to face local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on November 23, just days after the international break concludes.
It remains uncertain whether Ødegaard will be fit in time for the high-stakes North London derby.
On the international front, Ødegaard’s Norway side moved closer to a place at the 2026 World Cup after a dominant 5-0 win over Israel on Saturday. Should they qualify, it would mark Norway’s first appearance at a major tournament since Euro 2000.
