
Odegaard Sets Unwanted Premier League Record Amid Arsenal Injury Blow
Arteta’s Unlucky Captain – Odegaard’s Injury Curse Continues
Martin Ødegaard made the wrong kind of history in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham, becoming the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts.
What started as a promising return from midweek European action ended in frustration and concern for the Arsenal captain, who went off after just 30 minutes with a knee injury following a collision with Crysencio Summerville.
Odegaard’s Unwanted Premier League Record
Subbed before half-time in 3 consecutive starts:
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vs Leeds (23 Aug) – Shoulder injury, subbed 38’
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vs Nottingham Forest (13 Sep) – Recurrence of shoulder injury, subbed 18’
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vs West Ham (4 Oct) – Knee-to-knee contact, subbed 30’
The 26-year-old playmaker is pivotal to Mikel Arteta’s side but has endured a stop-start season, hampered by shoulder and now knee issues.
Arteta: “He’s not positive about it”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta didn’t hide his concern:
“He’s got a brace on… We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or another. The shoulder twice and now this injury.”
“He’s our captain and gives us a different dimension. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Ødegaard had starred just three days earlier in a “phenomenal” Champions League performance against Olympiakos, but his momentum has now once again been interrupted.
Arsenal’s New-Found Depth Soothes the Blow
While losing Ødegaard is far from ideal, Arsenal’s £250m summer investment is already paying dividends.
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£60m signing Martin Zubimendi replaced the captain and played a pivotal role in the opening goal with a sweeping long ball to Eberechi Eze.
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Declan Rice, who scored the opener, also went off injured – but Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri were able to step in seamlessly.
Arteta’s belief in “finishers over starters” seems justified:
“It’s not ideal, but the good thing is we can bring somebody else in and be a little bit different but still very, very efficient.”
Injury Woes Threaten Title Aspirations?
Arsenal’s 2024/25 title run collapsed due to injuries, including a critical spell where Ødegaard was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Now, with the new campaign still in its early stages, the same concerns are creeping back.
Arteta’s rotation policy and the club’s depth in midfield may be the key difference this time around, but losing a captain and creative force like Ødegaard could still leave a noticeable void.
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