Arsenal continued their impressive unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign with a convincing 2–0 win over West Ham United, yet the celebration was dampened by another worrying injury to captain Martin Ødegaard.
The Norwegian midfielder lasted barely half an hour before being forced off after a knee-to-knee collision. His substitution marked a concerning trend — Ødegaard has now become the first Premier League player this season to be taken off before halftime due to injury in three consecutive league matches.
He was later seen leaving the stadium wearing a knee brace, a sight that raised further alarm among fans and coaching staff alike.
Manager Mikel Arteta, speaking after the game, admitted that the early signs were troubling. “I just spoke to him, and he’s not positive about it,” Arteta revealed. “We’ll need to wait and see what the doctors say.
We haven’t had much luck with injuries lately. He’s our captain and gives us a different dimension in attack. Hopefully, it’s not too serious.”
For Arteta, the occasion was meant to be a proud milestone — his 300th game in charge of the club. The team delivered a performance worthy of celebration, completely outplaying West Ham from the opening whistle.
Declan Rice opened the scoring against his former club with a well-taken first-half goal, while Bukayo Saka sealed the victory from the penalty spot later in the match. Arsenal dominated possession, controlled the tempo, and barely allowed their opponents a clear opportunity throughout the 90 minutes.
Following Ødegaard’s injury, Martin Zubimendi came off the bench to help stabilize the midfield, ensuring Arsenal maintained their rhythm and composure. Arteta praised the squad’s resilience, particularly in light of their recent injury troubles and tough fixture list. “We’ve had a very difficult start to the season with tough games and unfortunate injuries, but the team continues to perform, play with confidence, and show total dominance like today,” he said. “It’s great to reach the international break in good spirits after this win.”
One of the bright spots of the afternoon was Bukayo Saka’s personal achievement. The 24-year-old marked his 200th Premier League appearance and reached 100 goal involvements — a remarkable milestone for a player of his age. Arteta was full of admiration, stating, “When you look at those numbers, it’s unbelievable. At his age, the level he’s performing at and the consistency he shows is remarkable. That’s the type of player we need to reach our goals.”
However, there was also concern for Declan Rice, who was forced off in the second half with back pain. Despite the injury worries, Arsenal’s win keeps them firmly in the title race heading into a slightly less demanding run of fixtures after the international break.
For Arteta and his team, the challenge now is to maintain their momentum — and their health — as they push forward in pursuit of Premier League glory.
