Arteta lost a key player against Forestplaceholder image
Arteta lost a key player against Forest | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal suffered a potentially major injury blow during their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
Disaster has struck for Arsenal, with star man Martin Odegaard breaking down with an injury caused by one of his own teammates during Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest. The Norwegian had to be withdrawn in the 17th minute and replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.
Odegaard had gone for a breaking ball on the edge of the box only to clash with teammate Jurrien Timber, who slid in to win the ball amid an approaching Nottingham Forest player. Timber seemed to catch Odegaard just above the ankle area, though the coming together and the presence of the Forest challenge certainly could have had an impact on the injury.
Odegaard missed significant time through injury last season when he picked up an ankle issue. During that time, the Gunners struggled to find a proper replacement, with Leandro Trossard struggling to perform to the same level in the number 10 role.
But the Gunners signed Eberechi Eze during the summer transfer window, spending around £60million, meaning they do now have very adequate cover, given Eze, who started out wide against Forest, plays his best football in the number 10 role. Arsenal were drawing 0-0 at the time Odegaard had to be withdrawn.
Odegaard missed seven league games through an ankle injury last season. Of those games, Arsenal won just three of those games, drawing twice and losing twice. Those defeats were against AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United.
hat injury was involved ankle ligament damage, while the injury the creative midfielder had a couple of weeks ago was a shoulder injury. Of course, we don’t know the depth of this latest setback, but the Norwegian received attention to the ankle area, which will raise concern given the amount of time he missed last season and the key points that Arsenal missed out on last season.
It’s likely Odegaard will now have a scan, and we are likely to find out early next week given Arteta will speak to the media on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Athletic Club.
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