Norway manager Stale Solbakken has revealed Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is still far away from starting games as he recovers from an ankle injury.

The 25-year-old hasn’t played since representing his nation last month in their Nations League fixtures against Kazakhstan and Austria, damaging ligaments in a 2-1 victory over the latter. He has since missed seven games for Arsenal, though the Gunners remain unbeaten so far this season and sit third in the Premier League.

Odegaard’s absence has still been a blow despite Mikel Arteta leading the north London giants to five wins and two draws in his absence but it seems the midfielder is still some way off from returning, with Solbakken delivering a somewhat concerning update.

He told: “There is great progress in relation to pain and injury, but he is a long way from playing matches.”

After claiming Odegaard’s return is “in Arsenal’s hands”, he added: “I don’t think anyone knows that [when he will be back], and I don’t think he knows it himself either.”

Arsenal fans had hoped the former Real Madrid starlet was closing in on a comeback after footage of him running on a treadmill was released earlier this week, but it could still be some time before he can make his return from injury.

The Gunners have some huge fixtures on the horizon. They take on Bournemouth in their first game after the October international break and then face the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Inter in the space of a month.

Odegaard isn’t Arteta’s only injury concern, either. Ben White and Jurrien Timber both missed the 3-1 victory over Southampton, while Kai Havertz had to pull out of Germany’s squad due to a knee issue.

Most concerningly, Bukayo Saka had to withdraw early from England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece, with his complaint due to be assessed before the Three Lions’ next game against Finland on Sunday.

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