Martin Odegaard 'unlikely to be available for Arsenal's Premier League London derby with Chelsea'

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.

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.

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.

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.