Martin Odegaard has hinted he is ahead of schedule and is making rapid progress in his attempts to recover from an ankle injury he suffered playing for Norway last month.
The Arsenal captain has missed his side’s last six games in all competitions and will again be absent for Saturday’s game against struggling Southampton.
Mikel Arteta has steadfastly refused to put a date on his main playmaker’s potential return and remained coy in Friday’s pre-match press conference when asked when his skipper may be back in contention.
He said: ‘Martin, it is very difficult. He is working so hard and pushing so it is difficult to give a timeline.’
With another international break on the horizon, however, Odegaard, writing his matchday programme notes, suggested he will be doing everything over the next fortnight to ensure he is back earlier than anticipated.
‘In the last week or so I’ve made really good progress,’ he confirmd. ‘I’m getting better & better by the day and feel it’s going well.
‘When you feel like things are moving forward, it gives you motivation to do more and more and work harder.
