Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has been forced off with an injury in the Gunners’ Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
In their first game back since the international break, Arsenal were looking to get back to winning ways against Nottingham Forest following defeat at Anfield, against Liverpool, last time out.
Ødegaard himself also had high hopes heading into the game, as did supporters, after the creative midfielder assisted twice and scored in Norway’s sensational 11-1 World Cup Qualifier against Moldova earlier this week.
Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard (Image credit: Getty Images)
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But, chasing his first Premier League goal involvement of the 2025/26 campaign, the 26-year-old’s game came to an untimely end after a shoulder injury forced Mikel Arteta to substitute his captain in the 18th minute, with 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri called upon to replace Ødegaard.
After a sliding challenge from Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White, Ødegaard was sent tumbling to the ground, where he landed awkwardly on his right shoulder.
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In what will be of significant concern to Ødegaard, the club and supporters, this is the same shoulder which he injured during Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United last month, which saw him sidelined for the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat at Liverpool.
Despite being fit to play more than 130 minutes for Norway during the international break, first impressions look as though the impact of his fall may have caused a recurrence of Ødegaard’s earlier injury, although confirmation of his condition will not come until after the game, and possibly for a few days.
Arteta will be hoping that the injury is nothing serious, with tough games away to Athletic Club, in the UEFA Champions League, and at home to Manchester City, in the Premier League, awaiting Arsenal over the next eight days, with the schedule failing to relent even after that.
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