Arsenal Captain Odegaard Suffers Third Knee Injury, Jeopardizing 2025 Season

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard suffered a knee injury during the first half of the team's 2-0 Premier League win against West Ham, marking the third consecutive Premier League start where he was substituted before halftime due to injury. This ongoing injury saga follows previous shoulder problems that forced him off early in matches against Leeds and Nottingham Forest, contributing to a frustrating start to the season for the Norwegian midfielder. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed concern about Odegaard's condition, noting the captain's importance to the team's attacking dynamics, and confirmed that medical assessments are ongoing. Alongside Odegaard, Declan Rice also left the game with a back injury, adding to Arsenal's mounting injury issues this season that have affected several key players. Odegaard's repeated early exits have significantly impacted Arsenal's campaign, as his leadership and creativity are difficult to replace on the pitch. Despite the setbacks, Arsenal remains atop the Premier League, but the injuries pose a serious challenge to maintaining their form moving forward.