The captain left the pitch in the first half after another awkward fall, raising concerns over a recurring issue that could affect his availability.
Martin Ødegaard’s afternoon ended in familiar and deeply frustrating fashion as the Arsenal captain was forced off midway through the first half of the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, aggravating the same right shoulder he damaged against Leeds only weeks ago.
The midfielder landed awkwardly after a heavy challenge that initially caught his leg before sending him tumbling. He received treatment on the pitch, attempted to continue, but within minutes was signalling to the bench that he could not carry on.
The recurrence of the injury so soon after the Leeds incident has heightened concern.
At the Emirates in August, Ødegaard had also tried to play through the pain after falling badly on the same shoulder before being withdrawn in the 38th minute.
Scans then showed no fracture or dislocation, and he returned as a substitute at Anfield against Liverpool and featured in both of Norway’s games during the international break. However, to have the same problem resurface so quickly will trouble both the player and the medical staff.
After the game, Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports, “I think it is the same shoulder he had last time he was uncomfortable to continue. That’s a shame because he played with the national team, he was feeling good and suddenly something happened again.
Asked if he is likely to be fit for Arsenal’s Champions League game on Tuesday, he said, “He is certainly doing everything from no on to be ready for Tuesday, I guarantee that, but I don’t know [if he’ll make it].”
In his press conference, he added, “I don’t know if it’s exactly the same place but it’s a very similar injury. He wasn’t comfortable continuing, he’s played two games with Norway, unfortunately he cannot carry on today. So we have to assess him with the doctors and see but I’m sure he will try his best to be fit for Tuesday.”
Asked if Ødegaard could need surgery, he said, “No, I don’t think that. I’m not an expert but they weren’t concerned at that level at all. The last time in a few days he was able to manage the pain especially as the injury wasn’t that bad. I don’t know the extent of two days but hopefully, hopefully.”
The similarities are striking: both injuries involved almost identical awkward landings on his right shoulder, both led to curtailed first halves, and both occurred after attempts to carry on proved impossible.
The win over Forest, secured by Martín Zubimendi’s superb volley and looping header along with a tap-in from Victor Gyokeres in a commanding display, offered a reminder of Arsenal’s depth, but Ødegaard’s latest setback is a worry.