Arteta Drops Major Hint: Star Player Set for Shock Newcastle Comeback

Mikel Arteta remains optimistic that Arsenal can have captain Martin Ødegaard available for their upcoming Sunday clash against Newcastle United following his injury layoff.

The Norwegian captain has been sidelined with a shoulder injury for Arsenal's previous three matches in all competitions, and two of his three Premier League appearances this season were cut short in the opening half due to this persistent issue.

The midfielder's spell on the treatment table may soon conclude as Arteta revealed Ødegaard has returned to training sessions on Friday, emphasizing that he possesses the qualities to make an immediate contribution despite his recent absence.

"Martin will be joining our training sessions over the next couple of days, so we're optimistic he'll be ready for selection," Arteta explained.

"Martin definitely possesses the ability to avoid overexertion in training and still deliver elite-level performances after just two days of preparation, given his exceptional natural fitness and talent."

Bukayo Saka should be fit for selection despite experiencing a minor injury concern during the week, though Arsenal continue to monitor the knee problem affecting winger Noni Madueke, who is not thought to have sustained ACL damage.

Current expectations suggest Madueke faces approximately two months on the sidelines, cutting short what had been an impressive beginning to his Arsenal career after his £52 million ($69.6 million) transfer from Chelsea this summer.

Arsenal entered the sixth gameweek of Premier League action positioned second in the table, trailing pace-setters Liverpool by five points, but must navigate a challenging fixture to maintain their current standing. The North London club has failed to find the net in their last three visits to St James' Park, suffering defeats by a combined margin of 4–0.