Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard issues injury update ahead of Bayern Munich showdown

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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard could be back in the Gunners squad tonight for the mouthwatering visit of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League group phase

Martin Odegaard has shared his disappointment that he was unable to prove his fitness in time for Arsenal's 4-1 North London Derby demolition of Tottenham.

The Gunners captain is now back in training and could return to Arsenal's match-day squad for the first time since October tonight against Bayern Munich.

The 26-year-old wrote in his programme notes: "Personally, I was so disappointed not to be involved in the squad for the North London Derby.

"I had been working really hard all week to be ready for it, but unfortunately, I wasn’t quite ready by Sunday. I’m getting close now and games like that just make me even more determined to come back. I thought we were brilliant."

Arsenal medical staff have been taking their time with Odegaard, who suffered MCL damage in early October in a 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham.

But he's now poised to return to Mikel Arteta's first-team in a much-needed boost ahead of the gruelling festive period.

Odegaard is well aware that he'll have to work hard to reclaim a starting spot particularly with Eberechi Eze now at the top of his game following his hat-trick against Tottenham.

He said of Eze's treble: "What a day for Ebs! That performance was just incredible, three brilliant finishes for the goals and it’s a game he will never forget."

The Norway international has endured a stop-start season after also injuring his shoulder earlier on the season against Leeds and then Nottingham Forest.

He has only featured once in the Champions League for Arsenal this season and has only made six appearances in the Premier League.

Arsenal do not have any fresh injury worries ahead of the meeting with Bayern, however. Gabriel is expected to have his latest scan on his thigh injury today while wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are pushing to start.

Odegaard trained with the group at London Colney on Tuesday but there was no striker Viktor Gyokeres, who remains absent with a muscular issue.

The Swede has not been available since he was substituted at half-time of the 2-0 win over Burnley on November 1, in which he scored the opener.

The games are coming thick and fast now for Arsenal and they will also have one eye on Sunday's crunch trip to Chelsea in the Premier League.

The Blues can go within three points of the Gunners with victory after they thumped Barcelona 3-0 on Tuesday night.