Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has provided an update on his fitness ahead of the Gunners' trip to North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
The Norway international was unable to complete the full 90 minutes in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, having taken a whack to the ankle in the first half.
Odegaard managed to play through the pain, but he was a shadow of the creator who started the match and left the field in the 74th minute to be replaced by Gabriel Martinelli.
Odegaard still linked up with the Norway team for their upcoming Nations League matches against Kazakhstan and Austria, but his manager Stale Solbakken offered a worrying injury update to the media earlier this week.
"I think it's another bang. I was about to say, I think it is something other than the bang, so to speak," Solbakken said, suggesting that Odegaard's ankle knock was indeed something more sinister.
Odegaard 'feels good' despite "a few hits" in Brighton game
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However, the former Real Madrid protege allayed such concerns in his own press conference, insisting that he suffered nothing more than "a few hits" against Brighton and would be fine to take on Tottenham.
"I feel good. I had a few hits in the game [vs. Brighton], but I feel better now & I trained yesterday without a problem, so I feel good. I'm ready for the game & excited to play for Norway again," Odegaard said.
As a result, the Norwegian is expected to be involved in his country's Nations League opener versus Kazakhstan on Friday, three days before the Scandinavian side pit their wits against Austria.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is already without two key names in midfield for the North London derby, as Declan Rice is suspended on account of his controversial red card in the draw with Brighton.
Meanwhile, new signing Mikel Merino will have to wait several more weeks to make his debut for the Gunners, having sustained a suspected shoulder fracture during his first training session.
What could Arsenal's midfield look like against Tottenham?
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Gabriel Magalhaes landing on Merino and causing the Spaniard's freak injury would not have been so crushing for Arteta had Rice not been dismissed last weekend, as the ex-Real Sociedad man would have been the perfect solution in the left eight role.
However, with Merino still watching on from the sidelines, Jorginho is surely the safest bet for promotion to the starting lineup, either in the number eight slot or as the deepest-lying midfielder, with Thomas Partey switching to a more advanced role.
Alternatively, Arteta could drop Kai Havertz into midfield alongside Odegaard and Partey/Jorginho, although that would depend on Gabriel Jesus returning from a groin injury in time to lead the line, and the German has struggled to adapt to midfield demands at Arsenal.
Academy products Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are both wildcard options, but the two teenagers will surely not be considered for their full Premier League debuts in a North London derby.
Ben Knapton
