Arsenal Football Club has confirmed that their captain, Martin Ødegaard, sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury to his left knee during their recent Premier League match against West Ham United. The incident occurred in the first half of Saturday's 2-0 victory, forcing the Norwegian midfielder to be substituted in the 30th minute after a collision with West Ham's Crysencio Summerville.

Ødegaard's injury is a significant blow for Arsenal, as he has been a key player in their midfield. The club released a statement on Sunday confirming that Ødegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand. He will remain at Arsenal's Sobha Realty Training Centre for assessment and treatment during the international break. The club's medical team aims to get him back on the field "as soon as possible".

After the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concern about Ødegaard's condition, stating that the player was "not positive about it" and had left the Emirates Stadium with a knee brace. Arteta acknowledged Ødegaard's importance to the team, highlighting the "different dimension" he brings to the attack.

This injury adds to Ødegaard's frustrating start to the 2025-26 season, as he has already missed game time due to a recurring shoulder injury. He was previously forced off early in matches against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest due to the shoulder issue. In fact, Ødegaard has made an unwanted Premier League history, being subbed off before half-time in three successive starts.

While Arsenal have not provided a specific timeline for Ødegaard's recovery, reports suggest he could be sidelined for several weeks. Injury analyst Physio Scout estimates that a grade one MCL strain could keep him out for one to three weeks, a grade two strain for three to six weeks, and a grade three strain for up to ten weeks, or potentially longer.

The absence of Ødegaard presents a challenge for Arteta, but Arsenal's strengthened squad depth from the summer transfer window provides several options in midfield. Eberechi Eze is a likely candidate to step into the midfield alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri are also potential replacements who could see increased playing time.

Adding to Arsenal's injury concerns, Declan Rice was also substituted during the West Ham match with a back problem. Arteta admitted that Rice's condition was "not alright". However, it is expected that Rice will join up with the England squad this week. Arsenal's injury list also includes Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke. The club hopes that new signing Piero Hincapié will return from a groin injury after the international break.