SETTABLOID

Martin Odegaard looks set to return to the Arsenal starting XI on Sunday in what is a massive boost to Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners have been without their captain since the end of August in the Premier League.

Odegaard suffered an ankle injury on international duty with Norway at the beginning of September and only made his return to the pitch for the Gunners in the closing stages of their defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

With question marks around Declan Rice’s availability for the big London derby with Chelsea on Sunday due to a foot injury, Odegaard returning to the fold is timely.

Having seen their skipper pick up an injury while on duty with Norway, seeing him miss crucial club matches, Arsenal supporters will be reluctant to see Odegaard go off on international duty again. Sunday’s match with Chelsea will be the last for two weeks as the final international break of the year takes place.

With Odegaard fit again, he could be called up by Stale Solbakken. And Arteta delivered an update on that situation ahead of the game with the Blues.

Arsenal are stepping up their preparations for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea as Mikel Arteta puts his squad through their paces in the final training session before the match.

The Gunners will be looking to get back to winning ways and close the gap at the top of the table. Standing in their way is Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who have had a positive start to the season under the Italian head coach.

The likes of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Gabriel have been pictured taking part in Arsenal training ahead of the match at Stamford Bridge. But pictures released by Arsenal also show a wonderkid who has been training with Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal is facing a difficult challenge in keeping hold of William Saliba, who has become one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe. Since establishing himself as a regular in Arsenal’s first team, Saliba has impressed with his performances and is now considered one of the top defenders in world football. His rise to prominence has coincided with Arsenal’s resurgence as one of the leading clubs in the Premier League, and he has been crucial to their defensive solidity.

Despite his standout displays, Arsenal has yet to translate their good performances into major silverware, and the club knows that it must secure some trophies soon to keep their key players satisfied and prevent them from being tempted by offers from top clubs. Saliba’s form has caught the attention of Real Madrid, a club known for its ability to sign almost any player they desire, which has put Arsenal in a difficult position. While Arsenal remains confident that Saliba will stay at the club, there are concerns internally that the allure of Real Madrid could be too strong for the defender.

Arsenal take on Chelsea this weekend in what for many is a title-deciding game but for sadly all the wrong reasons. Rather than being a clash to solidify the club’s hopes of winning the Premier League it is to instead keep them alive at all.

The form of the club has been very disappointing and Mikel Arteta finds his team winless in three and yet to win a league game since the end of the last international break. With the next one coming after the conclusion of this weekend, ensuring that a victory is secured has more than just the benefit of three points.

During the lull in form, several players have been unable to reach their usual levels. Arteta addressed the media on Friday and explained he had held a meeting with the group.

Yet there are perhaps two players who need more one-on-one conversations with the coach to lift their spirits or even bring them down to Earth. The first is Leandro Trossard who has been used as a deputy for Martin Odegaard but with frustrating outcomes.

Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior has reportedly emerged as a target for Sevilla as they hunt replacements for Loic Bade, who is wanted by Liverpool.

The Spanish media claim Sevilla have shortlisted Kiwior as an option for 2025 as they know Bade is likely to move onto bigger and better things. Sevilla’s pursuit of the Arsenal man is being spearheaded by Victor Orta, the sporting director who previously tried to land him in 2023.

The La Liga club feel Arsenal will be open to letting Kiwior leave as he has fallen down the pecking order following the summer arrival of Riccardo Calafiori.

So far this season, the centre-half – who can also play as a left-back – has featured in seven games in all competitions, though he has only managed 96 minutes of action in the Premier League.

When Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta took the reins at the Emirates Stadium, he well and truly cleaned house when it came to the dressing room.

He was ruthless in freezing out and offloading players that didn’t match his high standards and, in time, replaced them with players boasting the right attitude as well as talent.

Ben White is one such player, joining Arsenal for £50million in 2021 and going on to justify his hefty transfer fee.

The 27-year-old began life as a centre-back but eventually cemented his spot as the Gunners’ first-choice right-back.

This week, White spoke to the Arsenal media team about his career so far, and he touched upon the fitness routines of some of his teammates.

White named one Gunners player who he looked up to, saying he’s “a great example in how he trains” and is “amazing” in terms of his professionalism.

It’s been a tough month or so for Arsenal on and off the pitch. They’ve won just two of their last six games in all competitions, with those victories coming against Shakhtar Donetsk and Preston in the Champions League and Carabao Cup respectively, and defeats against Bournemouth, Newcastle and Inter.

And behind the scenes, sporting director Edu has resigned, with the former Gunners midfielder expected to take up a job with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to run his football operations. It’s a bitter blow for Arsenal at a time when results have gone awry.

Mikel Arteta has struggled with injuries to his squad this season, with captain Martin Odegaard the biggest issue with an ankle injury that has kept him out of action for two months. Elsewhere, the squad looks like they could really do with some fresh impetus in attack, having missed out on a true No.9 in the summer.

Arsenal take on Chelsea in a huge game at Stamford Bridge this weekend which could prove to be either a turning point or quite the opposite for the Gunners this weekend. A defeat would see Chelsea move three points clear but perhaps more importantly Liverpool may move ten points above them.

Arsenal are winless in the league since a 3-1 victory over Southampton before the last international break and could go into the next one without a single league victory in this period. Mikel Arteta has more injury concerns but also could be boosted by the return of one of his biggest stars.

The back five including David Raya are thankfully unscathed from the week’s drama. Ben White will partner William Saliba on the right-hand side while Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber will look to improve their own understanding as the left side continues to have struggles.

Could you believe it? Arsenal dropped three vital points against Newcastle United in the Premier League. If that wasn’t enough they went on to lose against Inter Milan in the Champions League, slipping at the very wrong time.

The Gunners are now set to face a difficult task as they are about to face Chelsea in an away fixture this Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford to drop any further points in the domestic league as the race for the title is neck-to-neck.

4-4-2 Arsenal Predicted Lineup Vs Chelsea

David Raya is operating between the sticks and will be a key man if Arsenal want to win the game. Right-back Ben White wasn’t at his best and needs to contribute more significantly.

No doubt that the performing centre-back duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will be in charge. They will have to be on their toes to keep the Chelsea attackers in check. Boss Mikel Arteta has been showing confidence and backing Jurrien Timber at the left-back spot.

Midfield

Thomas Partey should remain in the midfield unit. However, Mikel Merino could make way for Declan Rice if he regains full fitness from his foot injury. While the two will provide solidity in the middle of the park, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are about to operate on the flanks.

Though Martin Odegaard has already returned from injury, he might not be risked by starting this clash.

Attack

Kai Havertz suffered a cut during the game against Inter Milan but is expected to be ready to participate. On the other hand, Leandro Trossard should be able to retain his position in the lineup. However, he has been struggling with form and needs to step up before it gets too late.

Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Riccardo Calafiori are the confirmed absentees.

Given Arsenal’s recent form, an away trip to Chelsea doesn’t look especially inviting although recent clashes against the Blues have served as timely turning points in moments of soul-searching.

Most notably, Mikel Arteta got his managerial tenure back on track with a 3-0 win over Frank Lampard’s side on Boxing Day 2020. Later, a surprise 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge in April 2022 provided a similar boost.

In fact, Arsenal have become something of a bogey team for Chelsea under Arteta. While the Blues edged out a late win in their first meeting in December 2019, they’ve only managed to beat us once in 10 games since – a 2-0 result three seasons ago.