Martin Odegaard ‘unlikely to be available for Arsenal’s Premier League derby with Chelsea on Sunday due to visa issues’ but Aaron Ramsdale ‘is set to be in the squad’ for weekend Emirates Stadium clash
- Arsenal face Chelsea on Sunday looking to avoid back-to-back top-flight defeats
- Imminent signing Martin Odegaard will be available for the clash, say reports
- There is a delay in the Norwegian’s visa approval which could rule him out
- New goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is reportedly in contention to play on Sunday
Martin Odegaard is unlikely to be available for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday due to visa issues but Aaron Ramsdale should be available, according to reports.
As Sportsmail revealed this week, Odegaard had his Gunners medical on Wednesday ahead of his £30million transfer from Real Madrid, which comes a few months after his six-month loan spell at the Emirates Stadium ended.
Odegaard is set to be followed into north London by Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is set to arrive for an initial £24m, but the deal could rise to £30m.
Martin Odegaard is unlikely to play for Arsenal on Sunday due to visa issues, say reports
Aaron Ramsdale is reportedly set to be available for the visit of European champions Chelsea
But according to football.london, a delay on Odegaard’s approved visa means the Norwegian is struggling to gain registration in time to face European champions Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.
The 22-year-old needs to be registered by midday on Friday in order to be able to play this weekend, as the Gunners try to avoid back-to-back defeats at the start of this Premier League season.
The report adds that Ramsdale is also completing his medical on Thursday but should have no issues to make the matchday squad for the visit of the Blues.
Mikel Arteta is trying to avoid back-to-back losses at the start of this Premier League season
The two transfers should be completed within the next 48 hours and will be Arteta’s fourth and fifth summer signings after Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares moved to north London.
Head coach Mikel Arteta had always earmarked the return of Odegaard as a priority signing after a number of impressive displays during his spell at the club last season.
The Norwegian played 20 times for the Gunners during the second half of last season, scoring once and registering two assists for Arteta’s men, who finished the Premier League season in eighth spot and reached the Europa League semi-finals.
Odegaard impressed during his 20 appearances for the Gunners on loan last season
Ramsdale was part of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad at Euro 2020 this summer
Ramsdale, meanwhile, suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League with Bournemouth and then United, but was part of Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 as a back-up to Jordan Pickford.
The 23-year-old will compete with Bernd Leno for a starting spot at the Emirates Stadium this season, with the German goalkeeper at fault for one of Brentford’s two goals in Arsenal’s opening day defeat.
Odegaard, meanwhile, has healthy midfield competition in Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, though the Gunners sold attacking midfielder Joe Willock to Newcastle for £25m.
