Odegaard and Timber Eye Return as Arsenal Face Southampton

Mikel Arteta speaks to the media 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirms Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber could return for FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

“We're in a ‌position right now where we need to make the strongest line-up we possibly...”

Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton is shaping up, but they're missing Noni Madueke due to injury. However, Mikel Arteta hints that Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber could be back.

Madueke joins a list of injured Arsenal players, but with the Premier League title in sight, Arteta's team is managing their squad carefully. Arsenal last won the league in 2004.

“When ‌you have to communicate the state of every player, we are always honest and a medical decision had to ‌be made. That was clear what ⁠the conclusion was,” Arteta ‌told reporters on Friday.

“It makes us so proud that we had that many players in the national team. Players are desperate to play for their nation. I know how important it is to them. We are fully supportive of that and ⁠when we can do it, we do it.”

Mikel Arteta kept his cards close to chest, not revealing how many injured players will be available for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton. Arsenal aims to bounce back from their League Cup final loss to Manchester City with a Wembley return in the FA Cup semi-finals.

🧠 FA Cup focus
✊ Motivation after the break
🆚 Our opponents

Every word from Mikel's pre-Southampton press conference 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 3, 2026

Noni Madueke suffered a knee injury during England's friendly match against Uruguay, which led to him missing the game against Japan. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided some positive news, stating that Madueke's condition is not as severe as a previous knee injury that kept him out for six weeks.

Several Arsenal players were unavailable for their national teams, including Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Leandro Trossard, and Eberechi Eze Arteta hasn't disclosed how many of these players will be available for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

“We're in a ‌position right now where we need to make the strongest line-up we possibly can to win every competition,” he said. “We are two or three games away from the FA Cup and ⁠we know how ⁠important that competition is ‌for us.”