Martin Odegaard forced off with shoulder injury 17 minutes into Arsenal’s match with Nottingham Forest

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was forced off after 17 minutes of Saturday’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium after landing heavily on his right shoulder.

The Norwegian midfielder jumped to avoid a sliding challenge from Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White within the first seven minutes and came down awkwardly on his shoulder. He continued briefly but was substituted 10 minutes later after appearing unable to carry on, leaving manager Mikel Arteta without his principal creative outlet early in the contest.

The injury is the latest physical setback for Arteta’s squad, which was already missing winger Bukayo Saka, centre back William Saliba and striker Kai Havertz through separate issues. Odegaard has previously managed a lingering shoulder problem this season, having been forced off during the 5-0 win over Leeds United earlier in the campaign.

After the Leeds incident Odegaard said the problem had been managed. "It hurt a lot, but now I got it under control and I feel ready," he said at the time, adding that there had been no conflict between his Norway duties and his recovery at Arsenal. The club has not provided an immediate update on the extent of the latest injury or a timeframe for his return.

Arsenal face a congested schedule in the coming weeks. The Gunners travel to Athletic Club in Bilbao for a UEFA Champions League fixture on Tuesday, then host Manchester City the following Sunday. Arsenal also have a Carabao Cup trip to League One side Port Vale and a Premier League trip to Newcastle United before the month concludes.

Odegaard is central to Arsenal’s midfield structure and playmaking, and his absence would require tactical adjustments from Arteta. The manager has navigated multiple absences so far this season and faces further decisions on squad rotation as matches accumulate across domestic and European competitions.

Arsenal’s medical team are expected to assess Odegaard in the immediate aftermath of the match to determine the extent of the injury. The club typically issues official bulletins on player fitness following scans or specialist reviews, and supporters will be awaiting clarity ahead of the trip to Bilbao and the high-profile home meeting with City.

Nottingham Forest manager and players had no immediate update on Odegaard’s condition following the match. Both clubs continued with their respective match-day routines while supporters and media awaited word from Arsenal on whether scans would confirm any structural damage to the shoulder.

The sequence of injuries to key personnel has placed added scrutiny on Arsenal’s squad depth as they pursue domestic and European objectives. Any prolonged absence for Odegaard would increase reliance on other midfielders and change the dynamic of Arteta’s preferred system during a period of tightly spaced fixtures.