Arteta updates on Gabriel and Ødegaard ahead of Premier League clash in Newcastle

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta met with the media on Friday ahead of the Premier League clash against Newcastle this weekend. He confirmed that Ricci (Riccardo Calafiori) and Martin are definitely out of the match, while the situation regarding center-back Gabriel is more promising, as he may be available for selection.

Norwegian midfielder Martin Ødegaard is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained during Norway’s Nations League match against Austria at Ullevaal Stadium around a month and a half ago. Since then, he has missed several games for his club.

A key question now is whether Ødegaard will be fit in time for the upcoming international fixtures, which will conclude Norway’s Nations League campaign. Norway is set to face Kazakhstan and Slovenia on November 14 and 17, respectively.

Should Ødegaard recover, it would be a significant boost for national team coach Ståle Solbakken, who has received disappointing news regarding player availability ahead of these crucial games. Goalkeeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland will not be part of the squad due to injury, and defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen is also sidelined. Additionally, Julian Ryerson is a doubt for the matches due to injury concerns.

Norway needs to secure six points from their two matches against Kazakhstan and Slovenia, along with favorable results from Austria, to aim for a top position in their Nations League group.