Injured Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz await crucial Mikel Arteta call ahead of returns

Arsenal have been without both Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz for the majority of the season so far, with the duo both suffering injury setbacks in the opening weeks of the campaign

Mikel Arteta has been told there’s no need to rush Arsenal duo Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz back into first-team action as they continue their recovery from injury setbacks. Injury specialist Ben Dinnery has spoken about the two sidelined Gunners stars and outlined how Arteta should handle bringing his two crucial players back into the squad.

Havertz hasn’t played for Arsenal since coming on as a substitute in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United on the season’s opening day. The German international underwent surgery to resolve knee discomfort, having only recently returned from an extended absence due to a hamstring injury last campaign.

Odegaard hasn’t been out as long as his Arsenal colleague, but has now suffered consecutive injuries, initially to his shoulder and subsequently to his knee.

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When questioned about when either player might return to action, Dinnery said to football.london, via Escapist Magazine: “I think you look at the two individually. Odegaard certainly hasn’t spent collectively as much time on the sidelines as Havertz.

“Havertz is coming back and has had a heavily disrupted 2025 in all honesty after going under the knife for that hamstring surgery. Returning and then suffering from that latest knee setback.

“I think he’s a player that may need to be managed a little bit more carefully. Odegaard himself did have that recurring or persistent problematic shoulder injury which limited his game time in that competitive environment.

“But he was able to do little bits in terms of building that fitness, granted this latest setback is probably going to be in the region of around about six to potentially up to eight weeks with regards to that.

“He would be a player that I would certainly expect to be integrated a little bit quicker than Havertz. But, there’s the caveat to that as always. Influencing factors could always be around injuries and supensions in and around [the team], team fixture schedule.

“Ideally, given how things are going at the moment for Arsenal and their options particularly in that attacking third with Eze, Martinelli, Trossard and so on.

“There are lots of options in there and while things are successful on the pitch, that removes the pressure from Mikel Arteta and the questions around when these players are going to be back.

“That’s because he can afford to manage these players a little bit better and hopefully, take more of a steady integrated approach to being back involved in the first team.”

Both Havertz and Odegaard are anticipated to return to first-team duties after the November international break, ahead of a pivotal series of matches that could determine Arsenal’s campaign.

The Gunners are gearing up for a north London derby against their fierce rivals Spurs in their first domestic match, followed by a Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich, before heading across the city to Stamford Bridge to take on title contenders Chelsea.

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