Arsenal’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Leeds on Saturday was overshadowed by injury worries to two of their most influential stars.
Manager Mikel Arteta revealed after the game that captain Martin Odegaard suffered a shoulder issue while Bukayo Saka picked up a troubling hamstring problem.
The double setback came at a time when Arsenal’s squad is already stretched, with Kai Havertz also sidelined. Although Odegaard’s knock appears to be minor, the bigger concern lies with Saka, who looked in visible pain before being helped off the pitch.
Odegaard’s knock raises concern, but Saka injury more significant
Odegaard was the first to leave the field, clutching his shoulder during the first half. Arteta admitted the Norwegian will undergo scans to determine the severity of the problem. However, it was Saka’s injury that caused the greatest alarm, given his history with hamstring issues.
The England international collapsed after stretching to make a pass and was immediately attended to by medical staff. According to Arteta, the silver lining is that Saka did not aggravate the same hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for three months last season. Even so, the manager admitted his absence could be a major blow.
ALSO READ:
- Premier League transfer record shattered following Arsenal’s signing of Eze
- Arsenal complete £67.5m hijack as Eberechi Eze becomes new No.10
- Abdul Jabar Adama makes history as first Nigerian to medal at World Juniors
- Armand Duplantis soars to 13th World Record in Pole Vault
Arsenal’s injury pile-up leaves Arteta with selection headache
Speaking to the club’s website, Arteta expressed frustration at losing key players in quick succession. With Havertz already ruled out and now two more stars facing scans, the Gunners’ depth will be tested in upcoming fixtures.
“Martin looked like a shoulder, we’ll have a scan tomorrow, so we’ll see,” Arteta said. “Bukayo had to come off when he was sprinting with a defender, he felt a hamstring, a different one than last season. We’ll have to speak to the doctors.”
The Arsenal boss stressed the importance of squad size and resilience. He highlighted that injuries to pivotal players can derail momentum. While fans will celebrate the dominant win over Leeds, attention now shifts to the medical reports that could shape Arsenal’s next run of games.
Tags: Arsenal, Leeds, #LUFC, Martin Odegaard, #AFC, #COYG, Mikel Arteta, #EPL, #PremierLeague26, #ARSLEE, Bukayo Saka.
