Martin Odegaard left in knee brace as Mikel Arteta gives worrying Declan Rice injury update

Mikel Arteta has warned Martin Odegaard’s injury could be serious after the midfielder left the Emirates Stadium in a knee brace. Odegaard suffered a knee injury during the first-half of his side’s 2-0 victory over West Ham United.

The Gunners captain set an unwanted record of becoming the first ever Premier League player to be subbed off in the first-half of three consecutive matches. And Arteta cut a downbeat figure when quizzed on the Norwegian’s fitness post-match.

He said: “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.

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“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 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.”

Declan Rice scored his first goal of the season before Bukayo Saka added a second to secure the Gunners all three points against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. But Rice was substituted 11 minutes from time at his own request with a back issue after going to ground and receiving treatment.

The midfielder has been ever-present for Arsenal this season, but he is now a doubt for England, who are due to play Wales and Latvia during the upcoming international break.

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

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

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