Five Arsenal players miss full training as Odegaard set to return vs Brentford

Arsenal had four players miss full training on Thursday following their recent international exploits. Ben White was also absent from the outdoor session due to the injury he sustained earlier this month.

Arsenal return to action on Saturday when they make the trip across London to play Brentford. The Gunners know victory will take them to at least second place in the table, with leaders Manchester City hosting Liverpool earlier in the day.

One of the top two will drop points and Mikel Arteta’s side will look to take advantage. Arsenal had a host of players missing through injury before the international break.

Skipper Martin Odegaard and striker Gabriel Jesus hadn’t started any of the previous five matches in all competitions. Emile Smith Rowe has also been absent with a knee problem, while Thomas Partey will miss the rest of 2023 with a thigh issue.

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Arteta will be hoping to have as many players back for the visit to the Brentford Community Stadium this weekend. But it appears there is mixed news on the injury front.

Sky Sports claim that four players returning from international duty were training inside, away from the main session on Thursday. Brazilian trio Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Jesus were joined by William Saliba in the London Colney training complex.

It is also claimed that White was also absent from the outdoor session and working on his own programme indoors. The defender missed Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Burnley last time out and is said to have a muscular issue.

There was good news for Odegaard, though, who took part out on the training field. The Norwegian has been struggling with a hip problem in recent weeks and also suffered a concussion after being hit by a ball in training.

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Odegaard missed Norway’s matches against the Faroe Islands and Scotland but looks set to be available at Brentford. Smith Rowe and Partey were not seen and are set for a few more weeks on the sidelines.

The three Gabriels all played for Brazil in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the heated 1-0 defeat to Argentina in Rio. Jesus got through the entire match despite not playing for almost a month due to a hamstring injury.

Saliba has started every Premier League match so far this season and played in France’s 2-2 draw in Greece on Tuesday. Arteta will be forced into at least one change at Brentford, with David Raya ineligible to play against his parent club.

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