Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard could not make it to halftime of the Gunners’ Saturday visit from Leeds United as an early-match injury became too much.
Odegaard, 26, suffered an apparent shoulder injury on a foul that led to a free kick after 15 minutes.
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He played on but went down again, this time drawing trainers onto the field around the half-hour mark.
Arsenal had broken through for a 1-0 lead over Leeds through Jurrien Timber when the captain was removed from the match.
Ethan Nwaneri took the midfielder’s place in the 38th minute, halftime a bridge too far for his discomfort.
Odegaard is no soft player. especially for a playmaker, so it’s alarming whenever he’s not fit to continue with a match.
But Arsenal were in full control of the match even if the lead was just 1-0, and there will be hope that boss Mikel Arteta simply deemed the question one of unnecessary risk.