Martin Odegaard injury timeline emerges as update given on Arsenal star

Martin Odegaard handed Arsenal an injury blow against West Ham (Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is reportedly set to be absent until mid-November because of the knee injury sustained against West Ham United.

The club captain suffered the injury during Arsenal 's 2-0 win over the Hammers at the start of the month. At the time, the Gunners confirmed that he will miss the current international fixtures but didn't set a timeline for his return. It is now reported by BBC Sport that Odegaard is not expected to return to action until after the November international break.

It means that he will miss Premier League games against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland. He will also miss Champions League clashes against Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague and EFL Cup tie with Brighton. His first game back could be against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on November 23.

Odegaard has had rotten luck with injuries this season and has left the last three of his starts for Arsenal injured before half-time with shoulder injuries. He missed the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on September 21 because of a shoulder injury.

"I just spoke to him," Arteta said of Odegaard after the West Ham game. "He's not positive about it. He's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very lucky with that either.

"We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. "The shoulder twice and then this injury.

"We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking."

In their statement released on October 5, Arsenal confirmed Odegaard had sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury.

"Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday’s win over West Ham United," it read.

"Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible."

Despite missing Norway's games this international break, Odegaard has linked up with his national team to boost morale ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.

"Martin is a big part of us, he is our captain even though he doesn't play," Norway coach Stale Solbakken said . "He's a good man off it - someone who talks football, talks about everything, and is a security factor for the group."