Arsenal Injury Update: Will Odegaard & Calafiori be ready to face Spurs?

The dreaded international break is finally over. In true Arsenal fashion, the international break featured many disappointing Arsenal injury updates, which could hinder the likes of Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori for the North London Derby against Spurs.

Mikel Arteta has not lost a North London derby since 2022, when Tottenham merged victorious by a scoreline of 3-0. Since that dreaded match, Arsenal have won 3-1, won 2-0, drawn 2-2 and won 3-2.

Despite all the disappointing injury and suspension concerns, Arsenal are still favourites to win this game.

Even considering they're playing away from home, their recent record against Spurs and their contrasting forms to start the season, the Gunners are always predicted to win the North London Derbies.

Arsenal Injury Update: Will Odegaard & Calafiori be ready to face Spurs?

Martin Odegaard is NOT ruled out of Tottenham vs Arsenal

Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday morning that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is not yet ruled out of the Tottenham Hotspur clash.

In his own words, Mikel Arteta said: "Players with 48 hours are always available but let's see what happens."

The Arsenal and Norway captain was unfortunately omitted from international duty, with Norway's manager predicting that it would take at least three weeks to rehabilitate his ankle.

In his own words, Ola Sand said: “Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks, Anything other than that is just a bonus. And then it can take longer."

So, it seems like Martin Odegaard is on a touch-and-go basis. Admittedly, Arteta's comments do lessen the severity of the injury from fans' perspectives, since fans believed the skipper was 99% likely to miss out (based on Ola Sand's comments).

Hopefully, he recovers in time and can face Tottenham but even if he does, it's even more unlikely he will start.

Still, no news is good news, right?

Riccardo Calafiori is NOT ruled out of Tottenham vs Arsenal

The other injury concern for Arsenal involves Riccardo Calafiori. The defender who only joined in the summer was also injured during the international break.

Like Odegaard, Arteta struggled to give a definitive yes-or-no answer which ultimately means, it's not a no. I mean, being a glass-half-full Arsenal fan has never been a bad thing, right?

In his own words, Arteta said: "It's another one [Calafiori's injury] where we'll have to wait & see."

Calafiori would not be as big a loss for Arsenal as Odegaard would be. Nevertheless, having the Italian involved in the plans would be a welcomed boost.

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