Martin Odegaard: How Arsenal captain set unwanted injury record

Just three days after a “phenomenal” display against Olympiakos in the Champions League, things are not looking so positive once again for Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal captain made history in the 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday when he had to be withdrawn after only 30 minutes, becoming the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts.

It continues a frustrating opening few weeks of the season for the 26-year-old Norwegian, having also come off early in victories against Leeds and Nottingham Forest.

On those occasions it was because of an ongoing shoulder issue. This time, after being named in an attacking side by manager Mikel Arteta, he had to be withdrawn after going “knee-to-knee” with West Ham forward Crysencio Summerville.

“I just spoke to him,” said Arteta after the game. “He’s not positive about it. He’s got a brace on. We’ll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven’t been very unlucky with that either.

“We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury.

“We’ll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we’ll find solutions, but obviously he’s our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.

“Let’s wait and hopefully it’s not that bad.”

Odegaard hasn’t had much luck so far with injuries this season…