Morning.
Some quick Friday bits for you. Mikel Arteta’s press conference takes place at 1.30 today, and we’ll all be waiting to hear news about injured players and potential returns ahead of Sunday. Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are the two we’re waiting on most closely, but perhaps there’ll be a Martin Odegaard update too.
It has been reported that Norway are hoping to call him up for their two games in the November Interlull, which might be an indication that he’s close to making a comeback. Is this weekend too soon? We’ll see. I did enjoy the almost unanimous reaction from Arsenal fans to this news, which was to basically tell Norway and their manager get stuffed. Which, you know, I understand because he picked up that injury on international duty and, to be fair to Norway, the fact it’s the Nations League means nobody really cares about these games.
The only thing I’d say is that if he does return before the Interlull and plays for us, it’s difficult for us to tell Norway he’s not fit enough for them. Personally, I would hope some common sense would apply, and that they figure they have enough to win games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan without him. It’s one thing making a comeback, but managing the load on your return is an important consideration, even if there’s a slight case to be made that getting some competitive minutes under his belt could help him regain match fitness.
In his programme notes this week, the captain said:
I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.
It does sound a bit like he still has a little way to go in his recovery, but perhaps he is in cahoots with his manager about what kind of information finds its way into the public domain! Time will tell.
Meanwhile, early reports from the…
Author : arseblog
Publish date : 2024-10-25 06:41:46
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.The post Friday bits: Press conference injury updates, Odegaard, Calafiori first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2024-10-25 07:01:49
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.