Mikel Arteta has been given a positive update on Martin Odegaard's fitness ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash against Brentford. The Gunners' captain has been absent with an injury since the Carabao Cup defeat against West Ham on November 1.

Odegaard has been nursing an injury recently and Arteta will hope that the Norwegian can return to action after the international break. Despite his ongoing hip problem, Odegaard's omission for the defeat against Newcastle at St James’ Park and the home Champions League win against Sevilla was as a result of an unrelated issue.

The Gunners captain took a ball to the face during a training session at London Colney in the lead up to the loss on Tyneside. Odegaard failed a fitness test ahead of the loss against Eddie Howe's side after being checked over for concussion.

football.london understands that Odegaard was put through his paces at London Colney on Tuesday and continues to be assessed, but is expected to return against Brentford. The 24-year-old was called up for Norway duty ahead of the international break before withdrawing from the squad to continue his recover at London Colney.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken has now revealed he has spoken to Odegaard and feels as though he is making real progress in his efforts to return after the break. "I've just come from a 45-minute talk with Martin," Solbakken told a press conference.

"He is getting better and better and gradually stepping up. It has been more or less three weeks without any special training, so it is important to take things step by step.

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"Both he and Arsenal probably hope that he is available for the Brentford match," the Norway boss added. Before the international break, Solbakken said: "We have known for quite some time that Martin will not come.

"But it must be coordinated with Arsenal, and for as long as they tried to get him healthy and ready, we were quite sure that it would not work. When the club is so reserved, I don't know how right it is for me to talk about it.

"It is a common football injury from which he will probably recover very well and which is not career-threatening. It is in the bone."

It looks as though Odegaard is making good progress and with another week before the Gunners return to Premier League action, it's likely that he will be fit to face Brentford. Unfortunately for Arteta, he is still facing a number of injury concerns to other players in his squad including Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe.