September 13, (THEWILL) — Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard, faces further medical assessment after suffering a shoulder injury during the opening minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. The Norwegian midfielder lasted only eight minutes before being withdrawn following an awkward landing that appeared to aggravate a similar shoulder problem sustained against Leeds United last month.
Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the injury occurred in a comparable location to the previous incident, leaving Odegaard too uncomfortable to continue. Speaking after the match, Arteta indicated the problem would not require surgical intervention, unlike Kai Havertz’s recent knee injury, though medical staff will conduct thorough examinations to determine the full extent of the damage.
The timing proves particularly frustrating for Odegaard, who had already endured two months out with an ankle injury during the previous campaign. The midfielder had managed the shoulder discomfort through recent international duty with Norway before Saturday’s setback threatened to create another stop-start period in his season.
Ethan Nwaneri stepped into the breach once again, having previously replaced Odegaard when the initial shoulder injury occurred against Leeds. Meanwhile, Cristhian Mosquera impressed in defence after William Saliba withdrew himself from consideration despite completing Friday’s training session, telling Arteta he required additional recovery time.
Arsenal face Athletic Club in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Manchester City the following Sunday. Arteta expressed optimism about Odegaard’s availability for the midweek European fixture, though the club will prioritise the player’s long-term fitness over immediate selection pressures.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
