Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered an update on four of the Gunners’ injured players ahead of the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
Arteta provided updates on the status of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus and Gunners captain Martin Odegaard, with all four players nearing returns for the Premier League leaders.
The Spaniard explained that Odegaard is the only one in contention to feature against Bayern, with the Norwegian last featuring in the win over West Ham in early October, but confirmed that Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli are now in contention to start.
“We’re going to have a meeting now to decide on Martin. He was very close for the previous game, so we are hopeful that tomorrow he can be in the squad as well,” said Arteta.
Martin Odegaard makes his way to the training pitch ahead of Arsenal Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match against Bayern Munich. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
Arteta offered more positive news on both Havertz and Gyokeres, who could both be available for the weekend’s game against second-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“Really good, both of them. In the next few days, they’re going to have a repeat scan to see how everything is and where we can push them for the weekend,” he explained.
Speaking about the fitness of Jesus, who has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury in January of this year, Arteta said, “He’s quite close to be fair, and it’s earlier than we expected, in the next few days he’s going to have another step to make, with a game that we’re going to organise for him, and after that he’s just going to be knocking on the door, because he’s Gabriel, a winner, that’s how it’s happened.”
England international Noni Madueke who recently returned from his own injury lay-off to make a cameo in the win over Tottenham, is in contention to start against the German champions this week, alongside fellow winger Martinelli.
Arsenal are currently on top the Premier League table with six-points, the London club sit in second place in the Champions League league phase table, below Bayern Munich on goals scored.
