Just three days following a “phenomenal” showing against Olympiakos in the Champions League, things don't appear so promising again for Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain set a record during the two-nil triumph over West Ham on Saturday when he was taken off after only 30 minutes, becoming the very first player in Premier League history to be substituted in the first half in three straight starting appearances.
This continues a challenging start few weeks of the campaign for the 26 year old Norwegian, who has also come off prematurely in wins against Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
On previous matches, it was due to an lingering shoulder issue. This time, after being included in an attacking team by coach Mikel Arteta, he was forced off after suffering “knee-to-knee” with West Ham forward Crysencio Summerville.
“I recently spoke to him,” stated Arteta following the game. “He's not positive about it. He's wearing a brace on. We'll need to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very lucky with that as well.
“We haven't been able to field him since the start of the season for different issues. The shoulder twice and then this latest knock.
“We'll have to wait and see the extent of that knock, and we'll find answers, but obviously he's our skipper and is a player that offers a totally different aspect with the things that he can do, particularly in the final third.
“Let's wait and hopefully it's not that serious.”
Odegaard hasn't had much fortune so far with injuries this season...
Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (23 August)
Following completing 90 minutes in the first fixture of the season against Manchester United, Odegaard was taken off 38 minutes into their next game against Leeds after landing uncomfortably on his shoulder.
Arteta said it was difficult to tell how bad the injury was immediately after full-time and that he would be referred for a scan.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest (13 September)
Odegaard returned in the squad for the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool over a week later, coming on for the final 20 minutes, and then started both of Norway's matches during the September fixture window.
He was returned in the Gunners' lineup against Nottingham Forest on 13 September but had to come off again in the 18th minute, with Arteta later confirming the injury was a recurrence of his shoulder issue.
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (4 October)
Odegaard missed Arsenal's following 3 matches before coming back as a late substitute against Newcastle on 28 September and then completing the entire match against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday.
But only half an hour into Saturday's win against West Ham he once more was replaced, this time because of a knock to his knee.
Odegaard made 45 games for Arsenal in all competitions the previous campaign and is usually the first-choice player for Arteta.
It was fitness problems that derailed their title challenge in the previous season, with Odegaard himself having a period on the sidelines with an ankle issue.
But this season the situation has changed in north London.
The Gunners invested approximately £250m in the recent transfer market, bringing in 8 fresh signings, and that strength in depth has already played a significant role in their impressive start to the campaign.
Arteta was able to bring on £60m Martin Zubimendi to take the place of Odegaard and it was his long pass to Eberechi Eze which initiated the attack from which Declan Rice scored the opening goal.
Rice too was substituted with a back problem - but Arteta was able to introduce Mikel Merino and youth product Ethan Nwaneri in a genuine demonstration of squad strength.
The Arsenal boss has already stated that the “substitutes may be more crucial than the starting players in this campaign” - while he will hope that he won't have to keep using his squad because of fitness problems.
“It's less than perfect because we had really specific plans with the line-up,” he said. “But the good thing is we can bring somebody else in and be a slightly altered but still very, very efficient.”
Elara is a financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and entrepreneurship.
