“Arsenal receives encouraging news about injuries that could change the season.”

The return of Martin Ødegaard to action for Arsenal is “within reach,” according to Norway’s coach, Ståle Solbakken. The Norwegian midfielder has been facing an intense period of frustration due to a series of injuries that have kept him off the pitch, revealing himself to be “very frustrated and in a bad mood” during this difficult phase of his career. This season has been a true nightmare for Ødegaard, who has been forced to spend long periods out of competition due to recurring issues with his shoulder and knee.

Hopes that Ødegaard might return for the Carabao Cup final, which took place last Sunday, proved to be unfounded. Despite being spotted training the day before the match, he was unable to help his team, which suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, one of their main rivals in the Premier League title race. This was the seventh consecutive game that the player missed, a reality that weighs not only on him but also on Arsenal’s aspirations in the competition.

Ødegaard suffered a new knee injury during the draw with Brentford, which prevented him from participating in two matches before making a brief return, where he contributed with an assist in the thrashing of Tottenham in the north London derby. However, since then, he has not been used again. The Gunners’ manager, Mikel Arteta, stated before the final that Ødegaard and defender Jurrien Timber were still “a few weeks away” from a possible return, raising the possibility that both could participate after the current international break. The dates in question include the FA Cup quarter-finals against Southampton on April 4 or the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Sporting in Lisbon, three days later.

Additionally, Ødegaard was not called up for Norway’s upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland, marking over six months since his last appearance for the national team. The last match he played was an impressive 11-1 victory against Moldova in Oslo in September, where he had the honor of scoring a goal. Although he was present at the national team’s training camp, Ødegaard was unable to regain the necessary form to compete, missing crucial matches in October and November, while Norway, led by star Erling Haaland, secured their first World Cup finals appearance since 1998.

With hopes of an imminent return and its impact on the team in mind, Arsenal is eagerly awaiting Ødegaard’s comeback, who could be a decisive factor in the title race and European competitions. The pressure for the midfielder to recover quickly and regain his form is palpable, given the crucial role he plays in Arteta’s setup.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.