Arsenal will be eager to get back in action and return to winning ways now that the final international break of 2024 has come to an end.
The Gunners are yet to win in November, and their last Premier League victory was on 5 October when they ran out 3-1 winners over Southampton.
However, there have been mitigating circumstances, namely that Arsenal have been without a number of key players at various points of the season.
Arsenal return to action against a difficult opponent as they welcome high-flying Nottingham Forest to the Emirates Stadium in Saturday’s 3pm kick-off.
And BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes an Arsenal player who recently returned to action is set to be key for his side.
Arsenal star Martin Odegaard ‘almost plays a different game’
The player in question is Martin Odegaard, who missed 10 games in the Premier League and Champions League due to an ankle injury.
However, Odegaard returned to action for Arsenal just before the international break, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
The Gunners captain initially linked up with Norway during the November break but returned to London in order to focus on his full recovery.
Having had more time to recuperate, Odegaard will hopefully be fit and raring to go when Arsenal host Forest on Saturday.
And Sutton, writing on BBC Sport, believes the 25-year-old will be needed against Forest because of his “incredible” qualities.
“Odegaard is their one player who is on a different level when he is on the ball, and almost plays a different game,” said Sutton.
“He has that incredible awareness and understanding that allows him to knit everything together, and Arsenal will need that against Forest.”
What Odegaard said when he pulled out of Norway duty this month
Arsenal fans will have breathed a sigh of relief when Odegaard pulled out of Norway duty after initially linking up with his nation.
The midfielder flew to Oslo for Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan but then pulled out.
“After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches,”Odegaard told the Norwegian Football Association’s website.
“I’ve been through a long training period and when you haven’t practised football in the last nine weeks, it’s natural not to be 100 percent yet.
“I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape.
“The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches and if I hadn’t played on Sunday it would have been out of the question to participate anyway.
“It’s a very bad feeling to lose these games, I love playing for Norway and with this team.”
Norway team doctor Ola Sand, said Odegaard had sustained a “complicated” ankle injury and needed more time to be “match-ready again”.
Meanwhile, manager Stale Solbakken said: “He has had a strong desire to take part in the matches, but we cannot risk his health.”
