Ødegaard Injury Takes Shine off Arsenal’s Victory Over West Ham

Arsenal's comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday was overshadowed by a knee injury to captain Martin Ødegaard. The win, propelled by goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, saw the Gunners climb to the top of the Premier League table, albeit temporarily. However, the jubilation was tempered by the sight of Ødegaard being forced off the pitch in the first half.

The Norwegian midfielder sustained the injury around the 20-minute mark following a collision with West Ham's Crysencio Summerville. Ødegaard appeared to knock knees with the West Ham winger while attempting a tackle. He initially tried to continue playing, receiving treatment on the pitch, but was ultimately unable to shake off the discomfort and went down again, signaling for a substitution. Martin Zubimendi replaced him in the 29th minute.

This latest setback compounds Ødegaard's frustrating start to the season, with fitness issues plaguing the Arsenal captain. He had previously been sidelined with a shoulder injury, initially sustained in August against Leeds United and then aggravated in a later match against Nottingham Forest. Due to these issues, he has only started in five of Arsenal's ten games this season. This was also the third consecutive Premier League game in which Ødegaard has been withdrawn in the first half.

Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concern after the game, stating that Ødegaard was "uncomfortable" immediately after the clash. He confirmed that the player had a brace on his knee and that the club would need to assess the extent of the injury. "He's not positive about it," Arteta added, highlighting the captain's disappointment. Arteta acknowledged Ødegaard's importance to the team, noting the "different dimension" he brings to the attack and that "We have to wait and see the extent of that injury".

The injury also casts doubt on Ødegaard's international duty with Norway. He had been called up to the squad for upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand, but his participation now hangs in the balance.

Arsenal will hope that Ødegaard's injury is not too serious, with a busy fixture schedule ahead. Even if the injury is minor, Arteta may choose to rest him for the upcoming match against Fulham on October 18th, prioritizing his fitness for the Champions League clash against Atlético Madrid three days later. Games against Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion are also on the horizon before the end of the month.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Ødegaard's condition, Arsenal can take positives from their victory over West Ham. Declan Rice, playing against his former club, opened the scoring, and Bukayo Saka converted a penalty to secure the win. However, the Gunners will be hoping for a swift recovery for their captain, whose presence and creativity will be vital as they navigate a demanding season.

Adding to Arsenal's concerns, Declan Rice also had to be replaced in the second half after suffering from lower back pain. Arteta described Rice's injury as "unusual" and confirmed that he would also need to be assessed. The extent of Rice's injury is unknown.