LONDON (BN24) — Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League on Saturday with a 2-0 win over West Ham. Still, the mood at the Emirates was dampened by a worrying injury to captain Martin Ødegaard, who set an unwanted record in the process.
The Norwegian midfielder became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before halftime in three consecutive starts. He was forced off after just 30 minutes following a knee-to-knee collision with West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville.
Ødegaard had also been substituted in earlier wins over Leeds and Nottingham Forest due to a lingering shoulder issue. Though his midweek performance in Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League win over Olympiakos suggested he had moved past those problems, Saturday’s setback raised fresh concerns.
“I think he had a clash, knee-to-knee, and immediately he was uncomfortable,” said manager Mikel Arteta, who revealed the 26-year-old was in a knee brace after the match. “I just spoke to him and he is not positive about it. We have to wait and see the extent of the injury.”
Arteta acknowledged Ødegaard’s influence on the squad, describing him as a player who adds a “completely different dimension,” particularly in attack. “Let’s wait and hopefully it is not that bad,” he added.
The win marked Arteta’s 300th match in charge of Arsenal and lifted the Gunners one point ahead of Liverpool, who suffered their third consecutive defeat at Chelsea.
“I want to thank everybody, especially my coaching staff who have been with me since day one,” said Arteta. “I wanted to celebrate it with a win. I’ve got it. Now we have an international break to enjoy and use the time to prepare, because what’s coming after will be really difficult again.”
