Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a cautiously optimistic update on the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard, raising hopes that the influential midfielder could be available for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Odegaard's Race Against Time
The Norwegian playmaker has been sidelined for nearly a month since sustaining a knee injury during Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham on February 22nd. His absence will extend to Tuesday's crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal must overcome a 1-1 first-leg draw.
"We are really pushing him," confirmed Arteta regarding Odegaard's recovery. "He really wants to try to be available but we'll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team. We know the game that we're going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better."
Other Squad Concerns
While Odegaard's situation shows promise, Arteta expressed less certainty about defender Jurrien Timber, who limped off with an undisclosed injury during the first half of Saturday's 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton.
"We don't know. I think with him it will be a matter of days, but we're not sure," stated the Spanish manager, though he did confirm that forward Leandro Trossard is fully fit and available for the Leverkusen encounter.
Historic Performance from Teenager Dowman
The Everton match proved memorable for the emergence of 16-year-old Max Dowman, who at 16 years and 73 days became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. Coming off the bench, the teenager first assisted Viktor Gyokeres' opening goal before netting Arsenal's second himself during injury time.
When questioned about Dowman's potential for regular first-team involvement, Arteta responded thoughtfully: "Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly. Depending on the game and how he reacts – I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game. To do what he did in such a moment, it's very rare to see, or impossible almost. He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it's about the next one."
Teammate Praise for Young Talent
Defender Riccardo Calafiori also praised the teenage sensation, highlighting his remarkable maturity despite his youth. "The first time that you see him on the pitch, you're quite curious about him. He's so young but at the same time so mature on the pitch," Calafiori observed. "He can improve so many things but he's a talent, as you can see. But at the same time we have to leave him quiet and don't speak about him too much because he has everything. For sure we try to give him some advice but for the moment he's doing well even without our advice."
League Position and European Ambitions
Arsenal's victory over Everton extended their lead at the Premier League summit to nine points, strengthening their position in the title race as they pursue their first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup triumph.
Looking ahead to the Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen, Arteta expressed confidence in his squad's capabilities: "We know what we have to do and in front of our crowd, with our people, putting all the energy in the world again. Hopefully we're going to do it."
The coming week represents a pivotal period for Arsenal, with the Champions League knockout fixture preceding the Carabao Cup final against reigning champions Manchester City. Odegaard's potential return would provide a significant boost as Arteta's side competes on multiple fronts for silverware.
