The international break is always a period where fans sit with their fingers crossed that their club stars avoid injury. For Arsenal, they have not had an enjoyable first week with both Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard both facing attention for on-field and off-field issues respectively.

Odegaard’s Norway boss Stale Solbakken said: “I think it’s another bang. I was about to say, I think it is something other than the bang, so to speak.”

Naturally, this sparked worry and concern among supporters which was only worsened while watching France get beaten by an impressive Italy side which contained Gunners’ new boy Riccardo Calafiori.

Ousmane Dembele was dispossessed but then his subsequent fall into an unsuspecting Calafiori brought his game to an end and he was substituted. Despite the news that has since broken any immediate panic was tempered by Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti who offered some reprieve with his post-match comments.

“We need to assess Riccardo but with our staff, we’ve a good chance to have him back with us for the next game,” said Spalletti. Relief is the word most would associate with while reading that quote.

Yet it has since been reported that Calafiori will now return back to north London. No one wishing to take any risks with little in the way of information on the subject.

Arsenal fans were due to get their answers on Monday night on each player as both Italy and Norway return to action. Odegaard has already spoken to the media and appears to have suggested he will indeed play in his nation’s important must-win game over Austria.

“I feel good,” he said. “I took a couple of knocks in the match [against Brighton], but feel better now.

“[Thursday] I trained as normal without any problems and I am ready for the match.”

Meanwhile, Italy are playing Israel on the same evening but will now be without Calafiori. Spalletti is clearly a big fan of the former Bologna man who shone brighter perhaps than any of his international teammates at the European Championships this past summer but will now have to cope without him.

Arsenal will assess the defender themselves back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. The hope will be it is only a minor issue and he can play some part in the North London Derby before a tough week of away trips to Atalanta and Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta is still hoping for a return of Gabriel Jesus who has been missing from action since the away trip to Aston Villa. The international break was hoped would offer up the time for him to come back but there is yet to be a sighting in training.