Revealed: When Martin Odegaard will return for Arsenal as Gunners learn extent of untimely knee injury in significant blow to Mikel Arteta's plans

Odegaard made unwanted history against the Hammers when becoming the first player to be withdrawn before half-time in three successive English top-flight fixtures. He had previously been forced off against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest with shoulder complaints.

Mikel Arteta will now be without his skipper for a prolonged period of time, with BBC Sport claiming that he will not be ready until late November at the earliest - with a north London derby date on the agenda for Arsenal around that time.

Arteta has said of seeing Odegaard ruled out of his plans on a regular basis in the 2025-26 campaign, with the Norwegian midfielder unable to steer clear of the treatment table: “We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.”

Despite having to shuffle their pack on a regular basis, Arsenal have still been able to rise to the top of the Premier League table. After finishing as runners-up in three successive seasons, the north London giants have moved a point clear of reigning champions Liverpool through seven fixtures, with 16 points on the board.

Arsenal announced after seeing Odegaard limp off against West Ham that he had damaged knee ligaments. No timescale was put on his recovery at that stage, with the Gunners still hoping for a positive update from medical staff. They have been forced to accept that the 26-year-old playmaker will not be seen again any time soon.

They were warned that could be the case, with ex-Norway national team doctor Lars Engebretsen having told Dagbladet that there was the threat of Odegaard being forced to sit out several fixtures for club and country. He said: “I don't have information about exactly what the MRI showed but based on the injury video, it could be a lateral ligament injury. If it is such an injury, Odegaard risks being out for six to eight weeks but it depends on the size. It could also be a more extensive injury, cruciate ligaments maybe. In that case, the period on the sidelines could be longer.”

Odegaard is a key component in Arteta’s system, with much of Arsenal’s best work going through him. Others will be required to provide a creative spark in his absence, with it yet to be determined exactly how many Premier League and Champions League fixtures he will be forced to watch from afar.

The Gunners will be back in action on Saturday when making the short trip to Fulham. They will then return to Emirates Stadium for a heavyweight European encounter against La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Two more home games will follow that, against Crystal Palace in the league and Brighton in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

A run of three successive away games takes Arteta’s side through to the next international break. The first of those comes at Turf Moor against Burnley, before heading to Slavia Prague in the Champions League on November 4 and Sunderland four days later.

Arsenal will hope that Odegaard is ready for a recall after another break in club duties. They are due to play host to old adversaries Tottenham in the first north London derby of the season on November 23, before then entertaining Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich and taking in a trip to Chelsea.

Norway have fared admirably in Odegaard’s absence, as he also fills the captain’s armband for his country, with prolific Manchester City striker Erling Haaland leading from the front there. They are on the brink of securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with Odegaard desperate to grace that tournament next summer.