Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has allegedly suffered a new setback in his recovery from an ankle injury and may not be seen again for several more weeks.
The Norway international has now spent approximately one month on the sidelines with the serious sprain he sustained while in action for his country in September's Nations League fixtures.
Odegaard has been forced to sit out each of Arsenal's last seven matches in all competitions, and while Mikel Arteta's men have not lost any of them, they have been severely hampered on the creativity front without their skipper.
The former Real Madrid starlet was initially believed to have been on track for a return before the end of the month, potentially making his comeback against Liverpool on August 27.
However, according to Con Harrison - via football.london - Odegaard is now suffering from a new complication, and there are fears that he will be on the sidelines until December.
What other Arsenal games could Odegaard miss?
© Imago
If Odegaard is to spend the whole of November recuperating from this apparent setback, the playmaker stands to miss at least 10 games in all competitions, including some blockbuster battles.
There was never any chance of Odegaard being fit for imminent clashes with Bournemouth (October 19) or Shakhtar Donetsk (October 22), and it also would have been tight for him to return against Liverpool at the end of the month.
Arteta's men then conclude October away to Preston North End in the EFL Cup - a tie that Odegaard would likely have been rested for anyway - and a hectic November period for Arsenal begins with a trip to Newcastle United on the second of the month.
That fixture is the first of three daunting battles for the Gunners, who then head to San Siro to face Inter Milan on November 6, four days before travelling to Stamford Bridge for a date with Chelsea.
Following the last international break of the year, Arsenal face Nottingham Forest (November 23), Sporting Lisbon (November 26) and West Ham United (November 30), all of which Odegaard is likely to miss.
© Imago
Whether the captain will be able to return for the home game against Manchester United on December 3 also remains to be seen, and fans will now anxiously await an update from the club or Arteta.
Arsenal handed mixed news over Bukayo Saka issue
As well as their new blow with Odegaard, Arsenal have also received mixed news on the injury that Bukayo Saka sustained during England's UEFA Nations League loss to Greece on Thursday.
The 23-year-old appeared to hurt his hamstring just before the 2004 European champions broke the deadlock, and he was replaced by Chelsea's Noni Madueke just six minutes into the second half.
According to The Sun, Saka is set to be ruled out of the Three Lions' showdown with Finland on Sunday, although there is supposedly hope that his concern is not too serious.
However, both Arsenal and England are awaiting the results of a recent scan on Saka's problem, and he has not been ruled out of the imminent clash with Bournemouth just yet.
Ben Knapton
