Arsenal Captain Martin Odegaard Faces Fresh Injury Concern After West Ham Clash

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has remained in London for further medical checks on a knee injury sustained during the club’s 2-0 victory over West Ham.

The Norwegian midfielder had been expected to fly out to join his national team after the Premier League fixture but the trip was postponed amid rising concerns over his condition.

Sources close to the club indicate Odegaard’s knee is currently in a brace, with initial fears he may have suffered a more serious issue than first thought.

How the Injury Happened

The incident occurred in the first half of Saturday’s match when Odegaard attempted a challenge on Crysencio Summerville and clashed knees in the process.

Although he initially tried to continue, he kicked the ball out of play to receive treatment before attempting to carry on again.

However, the discomfort proved too much and the midfielder signalled to the bench, with Mikel Arteta visibly frustrated at losing his captain so early in the game.

Arteta Reveals Extent of Concerns

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Arteta gave a frank assessment of the situation.

“I think he had a clash knee-to-knee and immediately he was uncomfortable,” the Arsenal boss said.

“I just spoke to him, he’s not positive about it. He’s got a brace on, we’ll have to wait and see from the doctors. But we haven’t been very lucky with that either.”

The 26-year-old only recently returned from a shoulder problem and has now been forced off in three consecutive Premier League home games he has started.

This run of injuries has left Arsenal’s medical team managing his workload carefully, but this latest setback represents a fresh blow at a crucial stage of the season.

Norway Awaiting Update Ahead of Key Matches

Odegaard’s injury also leaves Norway’s national team with a dilemma ahead of two important fixtures.

They host Israel in Oslo next Saturday in a pivotal World Cup qualifying clash as they look to maintain their advantage over Italy at the top of Group I.

A friendly against New Zealand on October 14 follows, and the Norwegian FA is awaiting feedback from Arsenal’s medical staff before making a final decision on his participation.

Losing their captain for either match would be a significant setback, and Norwegian media have already raised questions over how they would cope without him.

Arsenal’s Wider Injury Concerns

The Gunners’ problems did not stop at Odegaard.

Declan Rice, another key figure in Arteta’s midfield, requested to be substituted in the 79th minute after experiencing back pain.

The England international’s decision surprised the Arsenal bench, given his reputation for durability.

“Well, he’s not alright because he asked me to come off, so that’s a shame,” Arteta explained.

“He had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we’ll have to assess him and see how he is.”

With crucial Premier League fixtures on the horizon and a title race building, Arteta will be desperate to avoid being without both of his midfield generals.

Captain’s Importance to Arsenal

Odegaard’s influence on Arsenal’s attacking play cannot be overstated.

“We have to wait and see the extent of the injury,” Arteta admitted.

“We will have to find solutions but obviously he is our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with things that he can do, especially in the attack. Let’s wait and hopefully it is not that bad.”

The midfielder’s creativity and leadership have been central to Arsenal’s strong start to the season, and his absence would force Arteta to reshuffle his system ahead of upcoming matches.