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Chelsea v Arsenal: Odegaard fit, Rice doubtful, Havertz latest

Gunners captain could be fit but Declan Rice and Kai Havertz are doubtful to face Chelsea.

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Martin Odegaard

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says captain Martin Odegaard is available to play against Chelsea on Sunday but may not be ready to start.

The Norway playmaker had not featured since August before coming on for a last-minute cameo in the Champions League defeat at Inter in midweek.

He could be needed, with Arteta facing several injuries in his squad before the big game.

He said: “Certainly having a player like Martin helps because he has shown what an impact he has over the last four, five years.

“Let’s see how he goes, how he trains tomorrow. He’s available, he’s fit, then we make the decision.”

Arteta said that Declan Rice, howver, has not trained while Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino are also doubts for the weekend.

Arsenal have had lots of injury concerns in recent weeks and their form has dipped as a result. The Gunners have lost three of their last six games in all competitions but Arteta is confident his side can recover.

He said: “We have to adapt a lot this season because we have a lot of injuries.

“That is something the team is learning and adapting to. A lot of the times it has worked and a lot of times something is missing. The team has the capacity to adjust.

“When you don’t win, it affects the mood and energy. There is nobody in this room or outside that wants to win more than I do or the players do.
“That is impossible. I sense a big belief in what we do as a team.”
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Picture of Tom Rostance

Tom Rostance

Tom has been writing about football - and other sports - for almost 20 years. He has covered four summer Olympics and many, many, many football matches from the World Cup final to the bottom of the EFL.

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