Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is close to returning from an ankle ligament injury, according to Norway coach Stale Solbakken.
The midfielder has been sidelined since suffering significant damage while representing his country in September.
“Everything indicates that (the injury) is going according to plan, then it is about the last steps when you are going to train with opponents and at team training,” Solbakken told the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang. “It depends on how he responds to it, but we have a justified hope that he is ready.”
Arsenal will face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, but manager Mikel Arteta did not confirm whether Odegaard would be available for that match.
During a news conference on Friday, Arteta mentioned that Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber are all doubts for the game against Liverpool.
“We’re going to do our very best to somehow have them available, but it’s very uncertain,” he said.
Saka is dealing with a hamstring injury, while Calafiori twisted his knee in the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk this week.
Timber has not played since the start of the month due to an unspecified issue.
Center-back William Saliba will be absent for the Liverpool match because he is suspended after receiving a red card in the loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.
