Mikel Arteta issues update on Odegaard & Rice injury setbacks after Arsenal win over West Ham in Premier League

The Gunners have been dealing with several injuries.

Declan Rice had to come off with a back issue, while Martin Odegaard was once again taken off in the first half with his ongoing knee issue in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over West Ham last night.

At the Emirates Stadium, Rice’s first goal and a penalty kick from Bukayo Saka put the Gunners atop the Premier League, but the victory came at a price as both Rice and Odegaard were forced to leave the pitch.

After a contact with Crysencio Summerville, Odegaard, who had just recovered from a shoulder injury, was replaced by Martin Zubimendi after just 30 minutes of play, making him the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before halftime in three straight starts.

Arteta update on Martin Odegaard & Declan Rice injury setbacks

“I think he had a clash, knee-to-knee and immediately he was uncomfortable. I just spoke to him and he is not positive about it,” Arteta revealed.

“He has got a brace on. We will have to wait from the doctors but we have been very unlucky with that.

“Yeah we haven’t had him since the start for one reason or another. The shoulder twice and then this injury.

“We have to wait and see the extent of the injury. We will have to find solutions but obviously [Ødegaard] is our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with things that he can do, especially in the attack.

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

Arteta was additionally worried about Rice, who opened the scoring with his first goal of the season and was clutching his back when he was substituted for Mikel Merino in the 79th minute.

“He’s not alright because he asked me to come off, so that’s a shame,” said Arteta.

“He had a pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan. We’ll have to assess him and see how he is.

Arsenal’s long injury list

The most recent injuries to impact Arsenal are those of Odegaard and Rice.

Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Piero Hincapie, and Gabriel Jesus are all currently out for the Gunners, and this season, Ben White, Christian Norgaard, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka have all been sidelined with at least an injury.

Given the exception of their 2-1 win against Newcastle last weekend, Arsenal have sustained at least one injury in each of their seven Premier League games thus far.

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