The 25-year-old suffered an ankle injury during Norway's Nations League clash with Austria last month and he hasn't played since. Although the attacking midfielder said his injury is healing "better" than expected, national boss Solbakken believes he is a "long way" from playing matches at present.
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WHAT STALE SOLBAKKEN SAID
He told Norwegian publication Dagsavisen: “There is great progress in relation to pain and injury, but he [Odegaard] is a long way from playing matches.
"I don’t think anyone knows that [when Odegaard will return], and I don’t think he knows it himself either.”
He added that Odegaard is in "Arsenal's hands" when it comes to this injury.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Odegaard is, arguably, Arsenal's best player and has been a huge part of turning the club into Premier League title challengers. The longer he is out of the team, the more likely the Gunners will slip up in their bid to win silverware this season.
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WHAT NEXT?
Odegaard's Arsenal side take on Bournemouth on Saturday, October 19, as they return to Premier League action following the international break. It remains to be seen when the former Real Madrid man will be available for Mikel Arteta's team.