Can returning Odegaard kickstart Gunners?
- Published
Arsenal go into the fixture with Nottingham Forest looking for their first win in the Premier League for five matches.
The Gunners were improved in the match against Chelsea when captain Martin Odegaard returned after two months out, only for Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice to limp off with injuries.
Mikel Arteta will hope that Rice and Saka are fit enough to play against Forest who have been the surprise team in the Premier League this season.
Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu have also been missing in recent weeks but they are nearing a return.
Arsenal have had a tough fixture list to begin this season but their performances have been of concern.
They have struggled to create freely and they have looked increasingly functional.
Arteta's side did not score in the defeats to Newcastle and Inter Milan but any side would miss a player of Odegaard's quality.
It was his pass that opened up the Chelsea defence for Gabriel Martinelli to score.
Arsenal are nine points from the top of the table but Arteta will hope that a win against Forest can put them back in the mix of teams hoping to challenge for the title.
