Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martin Odegaard will be fit to face Chelsea in Sunday’s Premier League clash, although he will make a late decision on whether to start the captain.
Odegaard made his first-team return as a late substitute during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday, having been sidelined since picking up an injury during international duty in September.
“Everybody in the squad will be fit and available to start the game, then it will be a decision on whether to start the game,” Arteta said.
The update on Declan Rice from Arteta was less clear, however.
The midfielder has been a doubt due to a toe injury, and Arteta addressed questions regarding his availability during the pre-match press conference.
“I have to be very vague on that one because there’s no clarity if he’s going to be fit on the weekend,” Mikel Arteta said.
“He hasn’t trained yet and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to play.”
Arsenal have struggled in recent weeks with Odegaard sidelined.
They’ve also been without key players like Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino for parts of this period, with Arteta acknowledging the challenge of adjusting to these absences.
“We have to adapt a lot this season because we have a lot of injuries,” he said.
“That is something the team is learning and adapting to.
“A lot of the times it has worked and a lot of times something is missing.
“The team has the capacity to adjust.”
Chelsea also have an injury concern of their own, with Cole Palmer facing a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s match.
The England international sustained an injury during last weekend’s draw with Manchester United, and Blues manager Enzo Maresca was uncertain about whether the star player will be ready to return.
“He’s getting better,” Maresca told reporters of Palmer.
“[Just because] he can walk and have dinner it doesn’t mean he is completely fit, but we still have two days to prepare the game.
“Hopefully we can have him for the session at least on Saturday and then we’ll take a decision.”
Read more: Kostas Tsimikas wants Liverpool to enter international break on ‘a high’ with win over Aston Villa
Arne Slot previews Liverpool vs Aston Villa clash
Diogo Jota set to return from injury after November international break
