Arsenal latest: Martin Odegaard's true character emerges as Gunners star sets record straight

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have been in fine form so far this season, as we turn our attention to news stories surrounding two injured stars ahead of a difficult run of games

There is no doubt that Mikel Arteta will be using every minute of the international break to prepare for a gruelling run of matches in the coming weeks.

Despite a disappointing 2-2 draw at Sunderland last weekend, which ended their impressive run of clean sheets, Arsenal went into the break on a high note thanks to their excellent performances in the first three months of the season.

Currently, they are four points clear at the top of the Premier League table and have maintained a perfect winning streak in the Champions League this season. Yet, the Gunners cannot afford to be complacent, especially with the North London Derby against Tottenham set for Sunday, November 23.

They will remain at home for their match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League three days later, before travelling to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea.

As we approach late November and the festive season, which is sure to bring some unexpected twists, football.london takes a look at some of the latest news surrounding the north London club.

Odegaard's delight

Martin Odegaard was at the heart of Norway's jubilant celebrations on Thursday night as they moved one step closer to securing a spot in next summer's World Cup for the first time in over two decades. The 26-year-old Arsenal captain has been out of action since sustaining a knee injury against West Ham before the October international break.

Odegaard was therefore absent from Norway's emphatic 4-1 triumph over Estonia on Thursday evening, though he ensured he was present for the celebrations following the significant result. The midfielder was initially spotted watching on nervously from the stands before joining the post-match festivities, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

He was seen in casual clothing as he and his Norwegian team-mates celebrated by dancing to loud music. football.london understands that Odegaard opted to join his national side during the international break, despite not being able to play, rather than taking a few days off.

His decision was driven by his desire to support his team-mates during what could be a historic week for Norway. Norway's head coach Stale Solbakken spoke about his captain's fitness earlier this week, telling reporters: "It is steady. It is going in a steady direction, but he is some distance away."

Gabriel Jesus hits out

Gabriel Jesus has hit back at suggestions that he could leave Arsenal in the near future. The Brazilian forward, 28, has been out of action since sustaining an ACL injury in the FA Cup encounter with Manchester United in January.

The Brazilian returned to first-team training earlier this month following a tough 10-month rehabilitation period, and is now determined to revive his career. However, Jesus, who previously spearheaded Arsenal's attack, now finds himself behind two expensive signings in Kai Havertz and summer arrival Viktor Gyokeres in the pecking order, prompting speculation that he could be deemed expendable at London Colney.

But the former Manchester City man has insisted that now is not the right time to leave, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2027. "Coming back from such a complex surgery, it doesn’t make sense for me to leave Arsenal now," he told Brazilian publication Somos Fanaticos.

Responding to the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, a frustrated Jesus added: "When I feel it’s time to return to Palmeiras [his first club], I’ll decide that with Arsenal, but we’re talking about a player who’s been out for nine months and is now fighting to get back into the team, and there are journalists who are talking without any basis whatsoever."

Arteta has also discussed his plans to reintegrate Jesus into the squad, saying: "[He is] a player that is very unpredictable, full of energy, super competitive, a player that comes from a context of difficulty in the last few seasons for various nasty injuries.

"So the level of hunger and desire that he’s going to bring to the team is going to be amazing. So I’m thrilled to have him, I think he’s going to add something extra to the team that we don’t have and make sure that very soon we see him on that pitch making an impact for the team."