Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is set to make a dramatic return for Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for seven matches. The 26-year-old midfielder has made faster-than-expected progress and is now in contention to play in the crucial top-of-the-table clash.
His return would be a major boost for Mikel Arteta, who is already sweating on the fitness of striker Viktor Gyokeres, sidelined earlier this month with a hamstring issue.
Tottenham may also receive a surprise lift of their own, with Randal Kolo Muani back in training while wearing a protective face mask. The France international suffered a jaw injury in Spurs’ 2–2 draw with Manchester United and was initially feared to be out for two months. However, he avoided surgery and could feature on Sunday.
Spurs remain short of attacking options, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke all ruled out. Mohammed Kudus is also doubtful after missing Ghana’s international fixtures due to a knock.
Despite Odegaard’s injury, he travelled with Norway during the international break and trained in Oslo as the national team secured World Cup qualification for the first time since 1998. The Arsenal skipper shared an emotional message on social media, celebrating the achievement and encouraging young fans to follow their dreams.
Arsenal could also welcome back Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, who has recently returned to training. However, defender Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to be out for at least a month.
For Tottenham, midfielder Pape Matar Sarr may miss the derby after picking up an injury while representing Senegal against Brazil.
The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown, with both teams battling for momentum in the Premier League title race.
