Arsenal have been without their injured captain, Martin Odegaard, for over a month, although a promising update has now emerged about the player’s potential availability ahead of the Premier League run-in.
The Gunners desperately missed their lead playmaker at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, as they slumped to a disappointing defeat in the Carabao Cup final. Manchester City opened the scoring on the hour mark when Nico O’Reilly headed into an unguarded net following a Kepa Arrizabalaga error, before the young Englishman doubled Pep Guardiola’s side’s lead with another close-range header just a few minutes later.
Mikel Arteta’s outfit accumulated just 0.6 expected goals and ten shots on the day, prompting Arsenal supporters to clamour for their creative skipper.
Martin Odegaard return date update
Martin Odegaard missed both legs of Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, while he’s also missed crucial league games against Chelsea, Brighton and Everton over the last month.
The Norwegian’s availability has been sporadic this term, with his total league minutes on the pitch only just eclipsing 1,000. His absence has forced Arteta to overplay Eberechi Eze in recent matches, and the former Crystal Palace man has subsequently sustained his own injury.
The Gunners have suffered without Odegaard, finding it difficult to create the volume of chances required to beat teams comfortably. This has meant that Arteta’s side have played a number of close matches, which has in turn meant that they’ve constantly had to exert physical and emotional energy until the final whistle.
Arteta says they did everything to try and get Eze fit for today.
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) March 22, 2026
On Odegaard and Timber, he adds:
“They couldn't make it, so I think they will still be a couple of weeks. Let's see after the international break if we have anybody back.”
All of this ultimately culminated in a fatigued second-half display against City at Wembley, which cost them silverware. Odegaard’s absence has clearly been detrimental, and thus, Arsenal fans will be delighted to hear that he’s nearing a return.
According to John Cross of the Mirror, the midfield maestro was actually close to being fit enough to feature in the final. However, the Gunners opted for the precautionary approach of not rushing him back, before he then withdrew from Norway’s squad for the upcoming international break.
Cross reports that there is ‘hope’ Odegaard will be available immediately after the international break, with the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Southampton earmarked as a possible return fixture. He should therefore be fit to play a major part in the run-in, as Arsenal fight for the Premier League title and the Champions League.
What will Martin Odegaard bring to Arsenal when he’s back?
Odegaard has been criticised over the last 12 months for not providing Arsenal with enough value in the final third. While the 27-year-old certainly hasn’t been at his best, he has still brought attributes to the Gunners’ midfield which they’re lacking without him.
As shown by the data below, Odegaard completed more progressive passes per 90 minutes than anyone else in the Premier League last term. Not only does he help Arsenal effectively get up the pitch so that they can dominate territory, he also gets the Gunners into the penalty area more than most other players through his passing.
| Progressive Passes per 90 leaders in the Premier League 2024/25 (5+ 90s only) | |
| Martin Odegaard | 9.72 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 9.46 |
| Adam Wharton | 8.84 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 8.69 |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 8.24 |
| James Maddison | 8.19 |
So while Odegaard may no longer break into the box effectively and get on the end of moves, he still provides the creative spark in the middle of the pitch. He gives the ball to Arsenal’s forwards in dangerous areas more frequently than anyone else, and without him, the Gunners’ attacking players have suffered.
Arteta may well be tempted to trial a system that involves Odegaard and Eze in the same team, with this combination potentially being very fruitful in and around the box.
