Ødegaard, Madueke & Hincapié: Latest Arsenal injury news and expected return dates ahead of Fulham clash

Arsenal will return to Premier League action on Saturday evening when they make the short trip across the capital to Craven Cottage – but they will have to take Fulham on without several key players.

Fresh updates mean that we now have a clearer picture of how long the Gunners will have to make do without club captain Martin Ødegaard, who sustained a knee injury in the first half of the recent 2-0 win over West Ham United, while Mikel Arteta will also be sweating on the fitness of defender Piero Hincapié, who is a doubt ahead of the weekend.

We’ve got all the latest updates on both of those players and the rest of Arsenal’s stricken players, along with their expected return dates when available.

How long will Martin Ødegaard be out injured for?

Arsenal’s luckless captain set a new and unwanted Premier League record as the first player to be substituted in the first half of three consecutive matches when he was taken off with what proved to a medical collateral ligament (MCL) injury against West Ham.

That injury, which followed a persistent shoulder issue which had already blighted the early part of his season, will now sideline Ødegaard until after the November international break, according to BBC Sport.

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If accurate, that means that the 26-year-old will miss the next six matches in the Premier League and Champions League – but also offers hope that he will be back in time for the first North London Derby of the season on 23 November.

Another knee injury victim, Noni Madueke, should also be back in time for that match, and is currently forecast to be back in action in early November after being forced to come off at half-time of the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Will Piero Hincapié be fit to face Fulham?

Summer signing Hincapié has barely featured so far this season, playing for just one minute at the end of the 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club, but he could be ready to play some part against Fulham following a groin injury.

Arteta told reporters prior to the West Ham match that the Ecuadorian “will be available after the international break” and there have been no reports suggesting that he has faced any further setbacks. He is still unlikely to start, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães expected to continue partnering each other at centre-back, but the Bayer Leverkusen loanee could play some part from the bench.

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Arsenal’s other absentees will be out for rather longer. As with Madueke and Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both recovering from serious knee injuries and are not expected back until later in the year.

Havertz underwent knee surgery in August but is expected to be back before Jesus, who is unlikely to be involved until January. Havertz could return in late November, but a December comeback is considered more likely as it stands. Arteta has not offered a precise timeline for either player.