Odegaard's Injury Woes Continue as Arsenal Show Squad Depth
Just three days after a standout performance against Olympiakos in the Champions League, Martin Odegaard faces another setback.
The Arsenal captain made history during the 2-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday by being substituted after just 30 minutes, marking the first time in Premier League history that a player has been withdrawn before half-time in three consecutive matches.
This unfortunate trend continues a challenging start to the season for the 26-year-old Norwegian, who also had to leave early in previous wins against Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
In those instances, his early exits were attributed to an ongoing shoulder issue. However, this time, he was forced off after a knee-to-knee collision with West Ham forward Crysencio Summerville.
"I just spoke to him," Arteta commented after the match. "He’s not optimistic about it. He has a brace on. We’ll have to wait for the doctors to assess the situation, but we haven’t been particularly fortunate with injuries so far this season. We haven’t had him available since the start of the season due to various issues, including two shoulder problems and now this injury."
Arteta added, "We’ll need to see how serious this injury is, and we’ll find solutions. He’s our captain and brings a unique quality to our play, especially in attack. Let’s hope it’s not too severe."
Odegaard's injury struggles have certainly hampered his season thus far.
Odegaard's Unwanted Record
Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (23 August)
After completing 90 minutes in the season opener against Manchester United, Odegaard had to exit just 38 minutes into the match against Leeds, having landed awkwardly on his shoulder. Arteta noted that it was difficult to assess the severity of the injury immediately after the game, and Odegaard was scheduled for a scan.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest (13 September)
Odegaard returned to the squad for the 1-0 defeat against Liverpool eight days later, making a late appearance. He then started both of Norway's matches during the September international break. However, in the match against Nottingham Forest on September 13, he had to come off in the 18th minute due to a recurrence of his shoulder issue, as confirmed by Arteta.
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (4 October)
After missing three matches, Odegaard returned as a late substitute against Newcastle on September 28 and played the full match against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday. Yet, just half an hour into the victory over West Ham, he was again forced to leave the pitch due to a knee injury.
The Positive Note: Arsenal's Squad Depth
Last season, Odegaard made 45 appearances for Arsenal and was a key player for Arteta. Injuries had previously derailed their title challenge during the 2024-25 season, with Odegaard himself sidelined due to an ankle issue.
This season, however, Arsenal has significantly strengthened its squad, spending approximately £250 million during the summer transfer window to acquire eight new players. This depth has already proven crucial in their strong start to the campaign.
Arteta was able to bring on £60 million signing Martin Zubimendi to replace Odegaard, whose long pass initiated the move leading to Declan Rice's opening goal. Rice himself later left the match with a back injury, but Arteta was able to substitute in Mikel Merino and academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri, showcasing the team's depth.
Arteta has emphasized that this season, "finishers could be more important than the starting players." However, he hopes to minimize the need to rely on squad depth due to injury concerns. "It’s not ideal because we had specific plans for the lineup," he acknowledged. "But the silver lining is that we can adjust and remain effective."