ODEGAARD RETURNS TO TRAINING FOR LIVERPOOL

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard has returned to training ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg clash with Liverpool. Arsenal will take on Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night and Odegaard is expected to return to the starting XI after missing the first leg due to Covid-19. The ex-Real Madrid and Real Sociedad midfielder returned to training earlier in the week as confirmed by Charles Watts, the Arsenal correspondent for popular media outlet Goal.

Odegaard missed the first leg after testing positive for Covid-19. Without him, Arsenal were able to battle to a goalless draw despite playing over an hour with ten men after Switzerland national team skipper Granit Xhaka was sent off in the first half. The Switzerland international was given an early bath for a foul on Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota who was through on goal. Xhaka denied a goalscoringopportunity and was dismissed by centre referee Michael Oliver.

Switzerland midfielder Xhaka should have missed just one game for his red card, but he will miss two games as the former Borussia Moenchengladbachstar had already been sent off earlier in the season. He was given a red card during the Premier League defeat at holders Manchester City in August. Xhaka was sent off in the first half of the Manchester City game for a foul on Joao Cancelo. The one from the Liverpool game in the Carabao Cup is his second red card of the season.

Xhaka will miss the second leg against Liverpool on Thursday and the Premier League home game with Burnley on Sunday. In his absence against the Reds, Odegaard could take his place with the Gunners short on first team midfielders. Belgian international Albert SambiLokongais the only available first team midfielder for the Liverpool game.