Arsenal have 13 players set for extra training with Mikel Arteta after Martin Odegaard decision

The international break perhaps comes at the best time for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side have endured a tough few weeks, with the Gunners winning just two of their seven games played since returning from the October international break.

Defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle United in the Premier League have not helped hopes of winning a first league title in 20 years, while the 1-0 loss to Inter Milan was far from enjoyable for those who made the trip to Italy. Arsenal have had their fair share of injuries, however, and Arteta is hoping a few of his players can make a recovery in the next week or so.

"What I’m praying is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped. That they are available and that they are fit, because, it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks," Arteta admitted after the draw with Chelsea on Sunday.

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"Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play, but with the ones who are able to play only for certain moments and not able to play. So I’m just asking that, because the desire the team has and how much we want it there’s no question. It’s going to come. We just need that on our side to be more consistent."

Following the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, a number of Arsenal's stars jetted off across the world on Monday to join up with their national sides. This includes the likes of David Raya, Gabriel, Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz.

There are a handful of players remaining in north London, though, either due to injury or purely because they were not selected for international duty. One of those who will be at Sobha Realty Training Centre over the coming days is Neto, with the goalkeeper looking to impress Arteta with Raya away with Spain.

Ben White and Raheem Sterling continue to not be a part of the England set up with the Three Lions facing Greece and Republic of Ireland in the coming days, while Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice pulled out of Lee Carsley's squad due to injury. Martin Odegaard has struggled with a foot problem over the last couple of months but after playing against Chelsea on Sunday, flew to Oslo to link up with the Norway squad for Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.

On Monday, though, it was confirmed that Odegaard had returned to London with the Arsenal captain insisting he has "listened to my body". “After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches,” Odegaard told the official Norwegian Football Association website.

“I’ve been through a long training period and when you haven’t practiced football in the last nine weeks, it’s natural not to be 100% yet. I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape."

Fellow midfielders Thomas Partey and Jorginho will also remain in north London after they were not called up by Ghana and Italy respectively, while the same can be said for Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli after the duo were not selected for Brazil duty. Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori, meanwhile, have been out injured in recent weeks although could make their returns after the November international break.

That means that 13 senior Arsenal players will remain in London this week, giving Arteta some extra training time with a number of his stars. It also presents the Spaniard the ideal opportunity to give certain players a rest ahead of a gruelling festive period in December.