Martin Odegaard injury: Arsenal receive worrying update as Ethan Nwaneri decision backfires
Arsenal have received a worrying injury update from captain Martin Odegaard following Thursday’s injury update. 1-1 deadlock with Brentford in the Premier League.
The Gunners dropped two valuable points in the title race at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Manchester City were the clear winners after Noni Madueke’s header was canceled out by a Keane Lewis-Potter effort.
Mikel Arteta’s men faltered in the London derby despite suffering three injuries before kick-off, as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all overcame problems to make the matchday squad – with the latter even given the nod in the first XI.
Odegaard and Saka were then introduced after half-time – the former replacing the ineffective Eberechi Eze during the break – but he was left in agony after trying to stop Brentford’s equalizer.
Odegaard stuck out his leg to try to stop Lewis-Potter from attacking the ball, but in doing so he received a painful blow to the knee and he remained on the ground for a few minutes to receive treatment.
Martin Odegaard ‘limps in mixed zone’ after Arsenal draw
© Iconsport / PA Images
The Norway international still managed to finish the match, but his influence quickly diminished after his positive impact immediately after coming on.
According to journalist Ryan Taylor, Odegaard was then seen limping across the mixed zone as he made his way to the team bus, sparking further fears of another potential dismissal for the playmaker.
Arteta did not provide an update on Odegaard’s condition after the match, but it would be a shock to see him involved in Sunday’s FA Cup encounter with Wigan Athletic, and his participation in the north London derby on February 22 could also be at risk.
Odegaard has already suffered four separate injuries during a heavily disrupted 2025-26 season, and he memorably became the first player to be substituted in the first half of three consecutive Premier League matches earlier this season.
The 27-year-old has managed just one goal and six assists in 26 appearances during the current campaign, during which he has been limited to two starts in the Champions League and 13 in the Premier League.
Should Arsenal have kept Ethan Nwaneri in January?
© Imago / News images
Arsenal letting Ethan Nwaneri join Marseille on loan in January was a natural move for both the club and the player, as the 18-year-old couldn’t even make a Premier League team when all of Arteta’s options were stacked.
However, with Odegaard now suffering from five worrying injuries this season, Mikel Merino potentially out for the rest of the campaign and Kai Havertz and Max Dowman also out for a few weeks, Eze is the only real option in the number 10 role.
The England international is still struggling to make a difference for the Gunners in the same way he did for Crystal Palace, and one can’t help but wonder if Nwaneri would be a useful alternative at the moment.
Arsenal do not have a recall option for the Premier League’s youngest player, and while his desire to move elsewhere was understandable, the Gunners’ decision to let him leave arguably backfired.
Defender William Saliba was another notable absentee from the squad to face Brentford, and Arteta provided an update on the Frenchmanwhose deputy Cristhian Mosquera made a crucial block to prevent Igor Thiago from scoring a possible winner.