Cynthia Ezegwu
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee following his early substitution in Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham United.
The 26-year-old Norwegian midfielder was forced off after just 30 minutes at the London Stadium, adding to Arsenal’s growing injury concerns this season. The injury occurred during a first-half challenge, and post-match images showed Odegaard’s knee in a brace as he left the stadium.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the situation as “not positive,” expressing concern over the repeated setbacks for one of his key players.
In a statement on Sunday, the club confirmed that Odegaard has been withdrawn from Norway’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Austria during the October international break.
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“Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half of Saturday’s win over West Ham United,” Arsenal said. “Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible.”
The latest setback marks an unwanted milestone for Odegaard, who has now been substituted before halftime in three consecutive Premier League matches — the first player in the competition’s history to experience such a run.
Odegaard’s absence is expected to pose a major challenge for Arsenal, who are currently level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.