Arsenal take on Port Vale in the Carabao Cup third round on the road tonight.
The Gunners will be eyeing a comfortable win despite the wholesale changes expected.
We have predicted at least nine changes from the 1-1 Premier League draw against Manchester City.
Martin Odegaard certainly won’t be one of those.
The club captain recently returned to team training. Arteta has confirmed that it will be ‘a matter of days’ before he makes his comeback to first-team action.
He told Arsenal.com: “No, no surgery. He’s totally fine. He’s already been training and it will be a matter of days I think.”
Odegaard poised to return vs Newcastle United
The Norway international has had a frustrating campaign due to back-to-back shoulder injuries.
He fell on his right shoulder against Leeds United last month and was substituted in the first half.
Odegaard was only a late substitute in the 1-0 loss to Liverpool before the international break.
The £30 million signing was back to full fitness for Norway’s World Cup qualifiers, but sustained the same shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest.
Odegaard has been sidelined for the last two matches as a result, and based on the manager’s update, he won’t play any part against Port Vale on the road.
However, he could definitely return for Sunday’s kick-off against Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Arteta said that he is ‘totally fine’, which suggests that he does not want to risk the 26-year-old tonight, and he could make his return at the weekend.
We won’t be surprised if Odegaard is picked in the starting XI to face Eddie Howe’s side.
Arsenal have lost in four of the previous five trips to St James’ Park without scoring.
With a five-point gap to league leaders Liverpool, the game already appears a must-win.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
