Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka latest news and return dates

Gunners sweating over captain’s shoulder issue again before Athletic Club and Manchester City clashes

Injuries: Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka have all been in the Arsenal treatment room this season

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Arsenal face a familiar injury fear over Martin Odegaard ahead of their Champions League opener against Athletic Club, with a key clash against Manchester City also coming up.

The Gunners begin their latest European league phase campaign in Bilbao on Tuesday evening, still dealing with a number of key fitness concerns and absentees.

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Captain Odegaard was hurt again during Saturday’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, joining the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus back on the sidelines.

William Saliba also did not play at the weekend, while Christian Norgaard was again absent again from the matchday squad at the Emirates Stadium.

However, there was some good news for manager Mikel Arteta – who rested Declan Rice against Forest – with Ben White back on the bench after his knock and Deadline Day signing Piero Hincapie also involved.

Here is the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of that huge fixture double-header against Athletic Club and Man City this week, with a trip to Newcastle also coming up in September in addition to a clash with Olympiacos.

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal’s routine win over Ange Postecoglou’s Forest was marred by their skipper going off hurt after only 18 minutes, replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

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More worryingly still, it appeared that Odegaard had quickly reaggravated the right shoulder problem that previously led to him being taken off early against Leeds last month and then playing only a bit-part role in the defeat at Liverpool, before featuring twice for Norway during the recent international break.

“Yes, very similar,” Arteta said of the two injuries. “I don’t know if it’s exactly the same place but it’s a very similar injury. He wasn’t comfortable continuing, he’s played two games with Norway, unfortunately he cannot carry on today.

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“So we have to assess him with the doctors and see but I’m sure he will try his best to be fit for Tuesday.”

Pressed on if Odegaard might yet need surgery, Arteta said: “No, I don’t think that. I’m not an expert but they weren’t concerned at that level at all.

“The last time in a few days he was able to manage the pain especially as the injury wasn’t that bad. I don’t know the extent of two days but hopefully, hopefully.”

Potential return date: Potentially Tuesday, September 16 vs Athletic Club (A) or Sunday, September 21 vs Manchester City (H)

William Saliba

Arteta sprang a huge shock ahead of the visit of Forest to north London by announcing that Saliba had already returned to training on the eve of the game.

That is despite reports from his native France having claimed just a few days before that the influential centre-back was facing three or four weeks out with the ankle injury sustained in the warm-up against Liverpool that he initially tried to play though at Anfield before being withdrawn in favour of summer signing Cristhian Mosquera after only a few minutes, later pulling out of international duty.

Arteta said a late decision would be made on Saliba for the game, though he did not end up being involved.

“He trained yesterday and he did the whole session and he was OK,” Arteta said after the win over Forest. “I spoke to him afterwards and he said I think I need a few more days.

“The turnaround has been too quick for the extent of the injury so when a player says that, don’t push it. I think Mosquera was very, very good.”

Potential return date: Tuesday, September 16 vs Athletic Club (A)

Bukayo Saka

Saka has not played since suffering another hamstring injury in the 5-0 demolition of Leeds on August 23, ruled out for a period of weeks but not requiring an operation.

However, it was not the same surgically-repaired right hamstring that he tore last season to spend three-and-a-half months out of action and Arteta has been pleased with his swift progress.

“Bukayo’s out and he’s trying to get back as quickly as possible, but we need to respect that process,” he said. “Let’s see, he’s evolving really well, with very specific work at the moment. The moment that we increase that load, let’s see how he reacts.”

Potential return date: Unknown, potentially late September

Kai Havertz

Arteta also spoke positively of Havertz’s recovery from a knee procedure undertaken last month, though re-emphasised that the German’s lay-off will last for months rather than weeks.

“He’s looking really good, he’s walking freely,” Arteta said. “He’s starting to load the knee and started to do some bits. As I said before, I think we’re taking it from weeks to months. But knowing Kai, I cannot give you any timescale because I know what he’s going to try to do.

“So I think he’s in a good moment. It was a very tough decision for him to go and have that procedure done. But I think it was necessary and it was the right decision from the medical team to persuade him to do that.”

Potential return date: November

Christian Norgaard

Arsenal’s £15million summer signing from Brentford was pictured training at London Colney last week, having yet to make a competitive appearance for his new club due to an unspecified injury suffered during pre-season.

However, he was again not involved in the squad against Forest and there has been no further update from Arteta.

Presuming there hasn’t been a setback, you’d imagine that Norgaard could be on the bench against Athletic Club in the Champions League this week.

Potential return date: Tuesday, September 16 vs Athletic Club (A)

Gabriel Jesus

Brazilian striker had been appearing to ramp up his return from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury in recent weeks, though he was left out of Arsenal’s Champions League squad and Arteta has now confirmed that it was always understood that he would not be in a position to return to team training until December or even January.

Arteta said before the win over Forest: “He [Jesus] had major surgery that was going to take him many, many months.

“So, after discussing that with the medical staff and understanding the schedule that we had and when we thought that he could be available, that it would be between December and January, we decided to make that call, like we’ve done in the past with other players.

“Hopefully, we did it wrong and he comes back earlier. But at the moment, the provision was very clear.”

Potential return date: December/January