Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s delight at seeing his side go top of the Premier League was dampened by another injury setback to captain Martin Odegaard during their 2-0 win over West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.
The Norwegian midfielder endured a frustrating evening after being forced off before half-time for the third consecutive Premier League match, setting an unwanted record as the first player in league history to be substituted before the break in three successive starts. Odegaard had previously come off early in wins against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest due to a lingering shoulder problem.
Just when it appeared he had put those issues behind him—especially after a superb performance in Arsenal’s midweek Champions League victory over Olympiakos—the 26-year-old was once again struck by misfortune. Odegaard collided knees with West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville in the first half, immediately signaling discomfort before being replaced by Fabio Vieira.
After the game, Arteta admitted concern over the extent of the injury, revealing that Odegaard was spotted wearing a knee brace. “I think he had a clash, knee-to-knee, and immediately he was uncomfortable. I just spoke to him and he’s not positive about it,” Arteta said. “We have to wait and see how bad it is. He’s our captain and gives us a completely different dimension in attack, so losing him would be a big blow.”
The injury somewhat overshadowed what was otherwise a memorable afternoon for Arteta, who marked his 300th game in charge of Arsenal with a victory that sent the Gunners one point clear at the top of the table. Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Chelsea allowed Arsenal to capitalize and end the weekend as league leaders heading into the international break.
“I wanted to celebrate my 300th game with a win, and I’m happy we achieved that,” Arteta said. “I want to thank my coaching staff, who have been with me since day one. Without them, it’s impossible to do the job or enjoy it.”
Arsenal will now hope Odegaard’s injury is not serious, with key fixtures looming after the break. Arteta’s side face a demanding run of games that could define their title challenge, making the fitness of their influential captain a major concern in the weeks ahead.
