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Only 3 days after a “phenomenal” performance against Olympiakos in the Champions League, the situation are not looking so promising again for Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal captain made history during the two-nil win over West Ham on Saturday when he had to be withdrawn after only 30 minutes, becoming the very first player in Premier League history to be taken off before half-time in 3 straight starting appearances.

This continues a frustrating start few weeks of the season for the 26-year-old Norwegian, who has additionally been substituted prematurely in wins against Leeds and Nottingham Forest.

On previous matches, it was because of an lingering shoulder injury. This time, after being included in an offensive lineup by coach Mikel Arteta, he had to come off after going “knee-to-knee” with West Ham forward Crysencio Summerville.

“I recently spoke to him,” stated Arteta after the game. “He's not optimistic about it. He's wearing a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the medical staff, but we haven't been very lucky with that as well.

“We haven't had him since the beginning of the campaign for different issues. The shoulder twice and then this injury.

“We'll have to wait and see the severity of that knock, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our skipper and is a player that gives us a totally different dimension with the things that he can do, particularly in the final third.

“Let's see and hopefully it's not that bad.”

Odegaard hasn't had much fortune so far with fitness issues this campaign...

How Odegaard Established an Unwanted Milestone

Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (23 August)

Following completing 90 minutes in the opening game of the campaign against Manchester United, Odegaard was taken off 38 minutes into their second match against Leeds after landing awkwardly on his shoulder.

Arteta said it was difficult to tell how bad the injury was right after the final whistle and that he would be referred for a scan.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest (13 September)

Odegaard was back in the squad for the 1-0 loss at Liverpool over a week later, appearing for the final 20 minutes, and then began both of Norway's games during the September international break.

He was returned in the Gunners' lineup against Nottingham Forest on 13 September but was substituted once more in the 18th minute, with Arteta afterwards revealing the problem was a return of his shoulder problem.

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (4 October)

Odegaard was absent for Arsenal's following three games before returning as a late substitute against Newcastle on 28 September and then completing the entire match against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday.

But only 30 minutes into Saturday's win against West Ham he again had to be taken off, this time due to a injury to his knee.

The Significant Positive: Arsenal's Enhanced Strength in Depth

Odegaard featured in 45 appearances for Arsenal in every competition last season and is typically the go-to player for Arteta.

It was fitness problems that disrupted their title challenge in 2024-25, with Odegaard himself enduring a period on the treatment table with an ankle issue.

But this season things are different in the red half of London.

The Gunners spent approximately £250m in the recent transfer window, signing eight fresh players, and that strength in depth has already played a massive role in their impressive beginning to the season.

Arteta was in a position to bring on £60m Martin Zubimendi to take the place of Odegaard and it was his long pass to Eberechi Eze which initiated the attack from which Declan Rice netted the first goal.

Rice too was substituted with a back problem - but Arteta was able to bring on Mikel Merino and youth product Ethan Nwaneri in a genuine demonstration of squad strength.

The Arsenal manager has already said that the “finishers might be more important than the first eleven in this campaign” - while he will hope that he will have to keep using his bench because of injury issues.

“It's not ideal because we had very specific intentions with the line-up,” he commented. “But the good thing is we can bring another player in and be a little bit altered but nevertheless extremely efficient.”