UPDATE 🚨Arsenal will soon add five players to their strongest starting line-up

Arsenal will soon add five players to their strongest starting line-up

Arsenal are close to revitalising their matchday squad as Mikel Arteta prepares to welcome back several of their injured team members

Martin Odegaard is progressing in his return from injury while Arsenal hope Bukayo Saka will be fit to face Bournemouth

The injury situation at Arsenal has only worsened in the last two weeks as the international break has, for the second time this season, wreaked havoc with Mikel Arteta’s squad. Both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli suffered problems whilst away on international duty.

Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey both were ruled out of the matches for their respective nations with a knee issue and illness respectively. There there have also been longer-term absences suffered by Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Arteta’s team selection has been heavily impacted by this with Leandro Trossard often having to come into the central areas and deputise in place of Odegaard. Thomas Partey and Riccardo Calafiori have also both been used at right-back.

There would have been hope that Takehiro Tomiyasu could have returned to cover both Ben White and Jurrien Timber but he has suffered a setback, which Arteta confirmed on Friday. Yet the Arsenal starting XI is due to be boosted soon.

White and Timber are of course two huge parts of the group and can play in the same team with the Dutchman operating as a left-back. White then comes into the right-back role, with the potential of trying to catch new England boss Thomas Tuchel’s eye depending on his stance on the national side.

This would see Calafiori drop out for Timber and it could be that Arteta chooses his players on a case-by-case basis. Both Saka and Martinelli coming back into the side will be a considerable boost when it looked as though at least one or even both could be missing for the return of domestic

Yet the big returner for these upcoming fixtures that has more impact than most is that of Odegaard. The captain has been missing since the September international break after suffering an ankle problem.

Asked for an update following questionable social media claims that the Norwegian had suffered a setback, Arteta put these firmly to bed.

“He’s not going to be fit for this game,” the Spaniard admitted. “Next week will be a different story. In that later stage of rehab, where he is at the moment because he’s doing a lot of stuff already, he needs to clear some markers.

“There are certain things he needs to be comfortable with doing, especially with the ball. Next week will be crucial to understanding how close he is.”

Pressed on whether he will return in these next seven games, Arteta said: “Yes. Hopefully, yes.”

Certainly excellent news and it will see Odegaard join Saka, Martinelli and Kai Havertz in the front four. He might also be joined by former Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino who has made his debut since he has been out with Declan Rice moving into the deeper six role.

The line-up is looking likely to get stronger and stronger therefore in these coming weeks. Music to the ears of Arsenal fans and a delight to the eyes of Arteta, that is for certain.