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Odegaard is injured again. |
In Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham at the Emirates in round 7 of the Premier League on October 4, the Norwegian captain was substituted after 30 minutes - thereby becoming the first player in Premier League history to be taken off before half-time in three consecutive matches as a starter.
When luck turns against the captain
Odegaard, 26, started the new season as Arsenal’s spiritual leader, the most influential figure in Mikel Arteta’s style of play. But instead of producing his usual moments of magic, he was dogged by misfortune.
Odegaard has been forced off early in the previous two games against Leeds and Nottingham Forest with shoulder injuries, this time following a knee clash with West Ham striker Crysencio Summerville.
“He’s not optimistic,” Arteta said after the game. “Odegaard is in a knee brace now. We have to wait for the medical team to confirm, but we’ve obviously not had much luck this season – the shoulder twice, now the knee. Hopefully it’s not too serious.”
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Odegaard had to leave the field early in the match against West Ham. |
In the 5-0 win over Leeds on 23 August, Odegaard had to leave the field in the 38th minute after falling in the wrong position. He returned to the starting lineup against Nottingham Forest on 13 September but lasted only 18 minutes due to a recurrence of his shoulder injury. And now, in the confrontation with West Ham, he collapsed after half an hour of play - despite having played the full 90 minutes in the Champions League in midweek.
Last season, Odegaard played 45 games in all competitions, being the creative brain behind Arsenal's possession play. But it was a series of injuries - both to him and other key players - that caused the "Gunners" to lose steam in the 2024/25 title race.
Arteta and the problem without Odegaard
While losing Odegaard a year ago would have sent Arsenal into a crisis, this season has been different. With over £250m spent in the summer, Arteta has a squad deeper and more flexible than ever.
When Odegaard left the pitch, he immediately brought on Martin Zubimendi - his £60m signing - and it was the Spanish midfielder who sparked the opening goal: his exquisite long pass set up Declan Rice to score against his former club.
Even with Rice also having to leave the pitch with a back injury, Arsenal were still able to field Mikel Merino and young talent Ethan Nwaneri, a clear demonstration of the depth Arteta has worked so hard to build.
“Nobody wants to lose players so early,” Arteta admitted. “But the positive thing is we have players who can come in and change the structure of the team and still be effective.”
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Without Odegaard, Arsenal is still fine. |
The depth of personnel has not only helped Arsenal maintain their position at the top of the Premier League, but also shows they have learned the bitter lesson from last season - where injuries crushed their title ambitions.
For Odegaard, this is a challenging chapter in his journey as captain. With all eyes on him, the talented conductor is battling the most invisible enemy: bad luck and physical condition.
If Arsenal continue to win in Odegaard’s absence, it will be a sign of a truly mature team. But for Mikel Arteta, there is nothing more reassuring than seeing his captain back on the pitch, armband in hand and a musical instrument at his feet.
Source: https://znews.vn/odegaard-tao-ky-luc-dau-don-nhat-premier-league-post1590930.html
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