Mikel Arteta is playing with fire, and Martin Ødegaard might get burnt

Martin Ødegaard is back from injury and is likely to start against Brentford this evening, but is Mikel Arteta playing with fire by bringing his captain back into the Arsenal starting lineup?

The skipper has suffered with a number of fitness issues over the past year and that has kept him from being a consistent starter for his side as they look to finally end their 21-year wait to win the Premier League.

When fit, Ødegaard is needed at his best and the Gunners will require him to be a real title contender if they are to go on and win the league. However, their best course may be to give the Norwegian a bit more time to rest.

Mikel Arteta is playing with fire, and Martin Ødegaard might get burnt

Arteta is surely set to rotate his side as they take on Brentford this evening and that offers a chance for Ødegaard, Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke to start from the off following their recent returns from respective injuries.

While it would be great for Gyökeres and Madueke to get more minutes under their belts, it may be just a bit too soon for Ødegaard to be coming back into the starting lineup.

As stated, the captain has suffered with inconsistent fitness since last season and that has hindered his ability to be a constant member of his side, but while he will be eager to fight for his place, Arteta is playing with fire by bringing him back too soon.

Ødegaard has played only 336 minutes so far this season and has managed to complete only two full games from start to finish, against Manchester United and Olympiacos respectively. That has meant he hasn't been able to put together a good run of form and match fitness.

There would be no problem with bringing the skipper off the bench this evening, just as Arteta did against Bayern and Chelsea, but he should not be a starter.

To start Ødegaard would put a tremendous strain on his fitness when he is still recovering from multiple setbacks and could put him at serious risk of suffering further injury. His manager isn't silly and likely wouldn't make him complete the entire 90 minutes, but to make him play from the off could put him in danger.

If Arsenal want their captain to be a key part of their title challenge, they need to give him more time to recover and slowly creep back into the starting XI, not throw him back in just three games into his return.

However, it is likely Arteta will start Ødegaard tonight and the injury danger he faces will depend on how long he plays for. While it is great for the skipper to get more minutes under his belt, his gaffer is certainly playing with fire and he is at serious risk of getting burnt.

Do the right thing, Mikel. Don't overplay Ødegaard.