Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has had a difficult start to the new season.
The Norway international is the Gunners’ most creative player. He has the ability to unlock any defence on his day and has produced several incredible performances over the years.
However, Odegaard had an underwhelming 2024/25 campaign after an ankle injury kept him on the sidelines for a couple of months. He just never recovered from that.
This season, the former Real Madrid star has had another issue.
Martin Odegaard opens up on ‘strange’ double injury
When Martin Odegaard is fit, he is a starter.
Mikel Arteta fully trusts his captain, and when the team is in full flow, the Norwegian usually produces some magic.
However, Odegaard’s season has been disrupted by a shoulder injury.
The 26-year-old fell awkwardly in the game against Leeds and had to be replaced. He was in a lot of pain but managed to recover in the following days.
Then, in the game against Nottingham Forest, Odegaard had another awkward fall and hurt the exact same shoulder again. That kept him out of the Athletic Club game.
The Arsenal skipper has now called his shoulder issues ‘strange’ because he has never experienced back-to-back injuries in the same place in his 11 years as a professional footballer.
He wrote in Arsenal’s Matchday Programme: “My shoulder was very sore, but I’ve just been taking it day by day this week, working hard to hopefully be ready in time for today’s game. It’s the same shoulder that I hurt in the Leeds United game, pretty much the same injury again, so it’s just really bad luck.
“The first injury had healed really well, I was over it – but then the same thing happened again. It had never happened to me in 11 years, but then it happens twice in two weeks, so it’s a strange one, and very unfortunate.
“The challenge itself was fine. I think three of us went for the same ball, and I felt something connect with my foot, which kind of flipped me forward, and I couldn’t do anything about how I landed.
“It was really tough to come off because I was excited to be playing at home again, feeling good after the internationals and really wanting to be out there after coming off in the Leeds game.”
Martin Odegaard has serious competition at Arsenal now
Odegaard was Arsenal’s undisputed starter in the number 10 role last season, and he is still among the first names on the team sheet.
However, the Gunners are well-equipped to cope without him now.
If the skipper is unavailable, Arteta could start Eberechi Eze in the number 10 role, while Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman are also at his disposal.
Even Mikel Merino has been used in that role recently and has fared well.
Odegaard’s return will be key for Arsenal, but the Norwegian will have to hit the ground running. If he fails to deliver, he could soon be replaced.
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