Simply three days after a “phenomenal” show in opposition to Olympiakos within the Champions League, issues are usually not wanting so optimistic as soon as once more for Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain made historical past in on Saturday when he needed to be withdrawn after solely half-hour, turning into the primary participant in Premier League historical past to be substituted earlier than half-time in three consecutive begins.
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It continues a irritating opening few weeks of the season for the 26-year-old Norwegian, having additionally come off early in victories in opposition to Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
On these events it was due to an ongoing shoulder problem. This time, after being named in an attacking aspect by supervisor Mikel Arteta, he needed to be withdrawn after going “knee-to-knee” with West Ham ahead Crysencio Summerville.
“I simply spoke to him,” stated Arteta after the sport. “He is not optimistic about it. He is obtained a brace on. We’ll have to attend and see from the medical doctors, however we’ve not been very fortunate with that both.
“We’ve not had him because the begin of the season for one purpose or the opposite. The shoulder twice after which this damage.
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“We’ll have to attend and see the extent of that damage, and we’ll discover options, however clearly he is our captain and is a participant that provides us a totally completely different dimension with the issues that he can do, particularly in attacking.
“Let’s wait and hopefully it isn’t that unhealthy.”
Odegaard hasn’t had a lot luck to this point with accidents this season…
How Odegaard set an undesirable document
Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (23 August)
After enjoying 90 minutes within the opening recreation of the marketing campaign in opposition to Manchester United, Odegaard needed to be withdrawn 38 minutes into their second match in opposition to Leeds after touchdown awkwardly on his shoulder.
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Arteta stated it was tough to inform how unhealthy the damage was instantly after full-time and that he could be despatched for a scan.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest (13 September)
Odegaard was again within the squad for the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool eight days later, approaching for the final 20 minutes, after which began each of Norway’s video games in the course of the September worldwide break.
He was again within the Gunners’ beginning XI in opposition to Nottingham Forest on 13 September however needed to come off once more within the 18th minute, with Arteta later confirming the damage was a re-occurrence of his shoulder drawback.
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (4 October)
Odegaard missed Arsenal’s subsequent three video games earlier than returning as a late substitute in opposition to Newcastle on 28 September after which enjoying the complete match in opposition to Olympiacos within the Champions League on Wednesday.
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However simply half an hour into Saturday’s win in opposition to West Ham he once more needed to be taken off, this time due to a knock to his knee.
The key optimistic: Arsenal’s new squad depth
Odegaard made 45 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions final season and is normally the go-to man for Arteta.
It was accidents that derailed their title problem in 2024-25, with Odegaard himself having a spell on the sidelines with an ankle drawback.
However this season issues are completely different in north London.
The Gunners spent round £250m in the summertime switch window, bringing in eight new gamers, and that squad depth has already performed a large half of their sturdy begin to the marketing campaign.
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Arteta was in a position to name on £60m Martin Zubimendi to interchange Odegaard and it was his lengthy go to Eberechi Eze which began the transfer from which Declan Rice scored the opening objective
Rice additionally went off with a again damage – however Arteta was in a position to deliver on Mikel Merino and academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri in an actual present of squad power.
The Arsenal supervisor has already stated that the “finishers could possibly be extra necessary than the beginning gamers this season” – though he’ll hope that he should preserve going to his squad due to damage points.
“It isn’t superb as a result of we had actually clear intentions with the line-up,” he stated. “However the good factor is we will deliver someone else in and be somewhat bit completely different however nonetheless very, very environment friendly.”