Martin Odegaard has shared injury update ahead of Arsenal's clash with Shakhtar Donetsk tonight
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Arsenal have been without captain Martin Odegaard since the September international break.
The Gunners star suffered an ankle injury while on international duty with Norway just over a month ago.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta went on to tell reporters ahead of the Atalanta game that Odegaard had sustained ligament damage.
However, there have been some positive signs of late, with the Gunners boss having spoken of how next week will be pivotal for Odegaard’s fitness.
"Next week will be a different story,” Arteta said ahead of the Bournemouth match, as per the Evening Standard.
“In that later stage of rehab, where he is at the moment because he's doing a lot of stuff already, he needs to clear some markers.
"There are certain things he needs to be comfortable with doing, especially with the ball. Next week will be crucial to understanding how close he is."
Now, Odegaard has provided an update on his road to recovery, via the captain’s notes section of the latest matchday programme.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard feels like he’s “getting closer now”
Odegaard explained how he is feeling “better and better each day”, and that he’s now “getting closer” to his goal of full recovery.
“I've been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks,” began Odegaard, as per the Arsenal website.
“And missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible.
“I'm feeling better and better each day, but when it's an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well.
“Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it's getting better and I feel like I'm getting closer now.
I've been doing a lot of work in the gym, and was on an anti-gravity treadmill recently, which is really good because it takes the weight off.
“Especially at the beginning that was really good, to be running again like that when you've been offloading the leg and not using it as much as normal.
“That was a good feeling, helping me get back to moving in a normal way, and being able to run after not being able to do that.”
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Arsenal team news v Shakhtar Donetsk
Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber also seems unlikely to feature as he didn't train on Monday either.
The Dutchman was forced off at half-time of the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain last month.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney also are on the sidelines alongside Odegaard.
Meanwhile, William Saliba is available for Tuesday night's match, despite his red card against Bournemouth.
Shakhtar goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov, who is recovering an ACL injury, is the only absentee for the visitors.
