Arsenal have received a crucial boost ahead of their Champions League showdown with FC Bayern. Captain Martin Ödegaard has returned to team training after almost two months off – just in time for Wednesday’s top clash at the Emirates Stadium. The British Standard reports that the Norwegian is pushing to make his comeback against the German record champions.
Ödegaard has been absent since the beginning of October due to a knee injury that caused him problems for weeks. The Londoners have had to make do without their thinker and leader, who plays a key role in the Gunners‘ attacking play. Now his return is imminent – and the enthusiasm at the club is correspondingly high. Ödegaard is already said to be training at a good level and is a serious candidate for the starting eleven against Bayern.
For Arsenal, the comeback has come at just the right time, as the situation is finally easing after weeks of personnel worries in attack.
Gyökeres still missing – return of other attacking players
However, Arsenal’s attacking arsenal is not yet complete. Viktor Gyökeres, who suffered a thigh injury at Burnley at the beginning of November, is still not on the training pitch. He has already missed the last three games and will also be absent against Bayern.
However, there were two welcome returns at the weekend: Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke returned to the squad for the 4-1 derby win over Tottenham. Madueke came on for the last twelve minutes and gained important match practice.
Gabriel Jesus is also back in team training, but Mikel Arteta is planning cautiously. The Brazilian, who has been out since January after a serious knee operation, will first play a test match behind closed doors before making his competitive comeback.
Kai Havertz, on the other hand, was still absent on Tuesday. The German international is recovering from knee surgery in August and will not be available to Arteta for the top match.
Interim solution Merino – but Ödegaard changes everything
Arsenal have been without a nominal centre-forward for the past three games, forcing Mikel Arteta to improvise. Mikel Merino took over the role in the center – and did a surprisingly good job. Two goals against Slavia Prague and an assist in the North London derby underlined his versatility.
But the return of the regular attacking players – Ödegaard in particular – gives Arsenal much more structure and variability again.
With Ödegaard back on the pitch, Arsenal will regain the control and creativity that has been lacking at times in recent weeks, which will pose an additional challenge for Bayern – as the Gunners will once again be much harder to count out in midfield.
Whether the Norwegian captain actually plays from the start will be decided in the short term, but one thing is certain: Arsenal will go into the giants‘ clash against the German record champions with more impetus, more depth and renewed confidence.