It's been an unfortunate start to the season for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who's been sidelined multiple times through injury already and is now racing to recover from an MCL problem.
The North London derby on November 23rd takes on added significance for Arsenal as they await Odegaard's potential return from a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
Martin Odegaard
The Norwegian playmaker has become synonymous with Arsenal's attacking fluency, and his absence has been an unwanted headache for Mikel Arteta.
Amid their pursuit of a first Premier League title in 22 years, the Gunners have done very well to cope through a torrid period of injuries to key attacking players at the Emirates. Odegaard's latest setback came during their 2-0 win over West Ham in early October, when a collision with winger Crysencio Summerville resulted in a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee.
The incident forced him off after just 30 minutes and made unwanted history. Odegaard actually became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts, and what makes this injury particularly cruel is the timing.
The 26-year-old had only just returned from a persistent shoulder problem that had already disrupted his campaign. That shoulder issue saw him withdrawn after 38 minutes of Arsenal's 5-0 win over Leeds United at the very start of 25/26, before an aggravation of the same injury forced him off after just 18 minutes against Nottingham Forest.
Odegaard has completed a full 90 minutes only twice this season, and Arsenal rehab specialists have resorted to pretty unique methods to speed up his recovery.
The former Real Madrid midfielder has been using anti-gravity treadmills at Arsenal's London Colney training centre to accelerate his comeback, a technique that reduces gravitational load while restoring muscle strength and mobility.
Arsenal's unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
His return would provide a massive boost heading into one of the season's most important fixtures against Spurs right after the international break, but Arsenal have now been dealt a pretty concerning update.
Credible reports had claimed that Odegaard is battling to be in contention for Tottenham alongside Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, with Gabriel Jesus the only forward definitively ruled out (Simon Collings).
However, Norway boss Stale Solbakken has now made a suggestion that even the derby may be too soon for him.
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard "some distance away" from injury return
Speaking in a press conference this week, Solbakken stated that Odegaard is actually "some distance away" from his injury return — which makes for a pretty concerning admission ahead of Tottenham's visit to the Emirates in just 10 days time.
odegaard
Despite still being sidelined, Odegaard has travelled with the Norway squad to be a presence for morale ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Italy.
Arteta will be keeping a very close eye on his players during this international break, which always poses the threat of unwanted injury problems, and defender Riccardo Calafiori gave Arsenal a scare earlier this week after it was revealed the left-back is training alone with a hip issue.
Luckily for the Azzurri and Arteta, Italian medical officials believe that Calafiori will be fit to face Norway on November 16, with the individual training programme most likely a precaution and nothing too serious.
Immediately after their clash against Tottenham, the north Londoners take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Chelsea just four days later, with Arteta hoping he has most of his attacking contingent back and ready to contribute in these vital face-offs.