Arsenal are eagerly anticipating the return of their captain, Martin Odegaard, for the upcoming Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Odegaard has been absent since sustaining a knee injury on October
4 against West Ham, following a brief period out due to a shoulder issue. Arsenal recently secured a 4-1 victory over Tottenham in the Premier League and now shift focus to Wednesday's clash with Bayern before facing Chelsea on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta remains hopeful about Odegaard's participation against Bayern at the Emirates Stadium. He stated, "We are going to have a meeting now to decide on Martin. He was really close for the last game. We are hopeful that he can be involved [against] Bayern. " Additionally, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres might make their return for the Chelsea match.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich have both demonstrated strong performances in the Champions League this season. Neither team has trailed in their first four matches, sharing this distinction with Inter Milan and Manchester City. Arsenal stands out as the only team yet to concede a goal in the tournament, leading in expected goals against (1.9) and shots on target faced (seven).
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, shares the top spot for goals scored (14) alongside Paris Saint-Germain and leads in expected goals (12.3) during the opening four matchdays of this season's competition. This sets up an intriguing encounter between two formidable teams.
Jurrien Timber, Arsenal's right-back, acknowledges the challenge posed by Bayern Munich but believes Arsenal's squad depth is crucial for such high-stakes games. "Bayern are a big club; it's going to be a tough game," Timber remarked. "It's two teams that want to press. " He emphasised the importance of squad depth and internal competition in fostering development and success.
Arsenal have enjoyed an impressive run in their recent Champions League group stage matches, winning eight consecutive games with an aggregate score of 24-2. This streak marks their longest unbeaten run in this phase of the competition's history.
Historical Context
The Gunners face a challenging history against Bayern Munich, having failed to secure a win in their last five encounters since October 2015 when they won 2-0. During this period, they suffered three heavy defeats with 5-1 scorelines among four losses.
Arteta also provided updates on Havertz and Gyokeres: "Really good, both of them. So in the next few days, they will have repeat scans to see if we can push them for the weekend. " Their potential return could bolster Arsenal's lineup for upcoming fixtures.
Dreamland.pic.twitter.com/FvlqeGba1G— Arsenal (@Arsenal)November 24, 2025
The anticipation surrounding Odegaard's potential return adds excitement to an already thrilling matchup between two elite clubs aiming for success on Europe's grandest stage.
