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Arsenal will be without Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland.
Martinelli has missed Arsenal’s last two games with a muscular issue, believed to be his thigh, and has been omitted from the Brazil squad for their upcoming games with Senegal and Tunisia.
Odegaard, who injured his knee last month, has been left out of the Norway squad for their matches against Estonia and Italy next week.
“I talk to Martin regularly,” Norway boss Stale Solbakken is quoted as saying by Norwegian newspaper VG.
When he’ll be ready, neither he, Arsenal, nor we know, as of now
“He is doing well and things are going as they should, but he is not here. It’s an injury. You have to call Arsenal about that.
“He’s well on his way in his rehab, but when he’ll be ready, neither he, Arsenal nor we know, as of now.”
Odegaard may still travel with the Norway squad, as he is their captain, to show support ahead of their World Cup qualifiers.
“We haven’t discussed it much, but Martin probably has a strong desire to be in the group,” Solbakken added.
“And then we’ll see what we can agree on there. He still has rehab, which is the most, most important thing, that he gets on the field as soon as possible. Then we’ll see how it fits in. We’re not the ones who have control over him, Arsenal is.”
Odegaard and Martinelli are among seven first-team players currently out of action for Arsenal, who face Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke are absent with knee injuries - but Mikel Arteta hopes they will be back for the north London derby on November 23. Odegaard is also targeting that game.
Viktor Gyokeres is undergoing scans this week on a muscular issue he picked up during Saturday’s win at Burnley.
The striker will miss the game in Slavia Prague and looks unlikely to be fit to face Sunderland this weekend.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missed training on Monday afternoon ahead of the game with Slavia Prague to add to Arsenal’s list of absentees.
Gabriel Jesus is the furthest away from a comeback, with the striker still working on his recovery after knee surgery in January.
