Arsenal: Mikel Arteta provides Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice updates as pair forced off in West Ham clash | OneFootball

Rice may be forced to withdraw from the upcoming England camp

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Odegaard knocked knees with Crysencio Summerville when attempting to tackle the West Ham winger in the 17th minute of the Gunners’ 2-0 win. The Arsenal captain went down and received treatment on the pitch before attempting to carry on.

Within minutes, however, Odegaard was down again and receiving more medical attention from Arsenal’s physio. He was forced off shortly after, compounding his dreadful injury luck this season.

Rice, too, asked to be replaced in the second half, evidently suffering with lower back pain.

Speaking at full-time, Arteta said of Odegaard: "He had a clash, knee to knee. Immediately, he was uncomfortable.

“He’s not positive about it. He has a brace on it. Hopefully it's not that bad.

“We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We have to wait and see the extent of that injury.

“We will find solutions, but obviously, he's our captain, he's a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.”

He continued, explaining Rice’s “unusual” injury: “He is not alright because he asked me to come off. He had pain in his back and had to come off. It’s very unusual for Declan.”

Odegaard has previously been struggling with a shoulder issue that he picked up in August during a 5-0 win over Leeds. He recovered from the issue, but then aggravated it again last month during Arsenal’s victory over Nottingham Forest.

Odegaard’s bad luck with injuries has meant that he has started only five of Arsenal’s 10 games this season, so far.

Saturday’s was the third consecutive Premier League match in which he failed to complete the first half.

Odegaard had not been named in Norway’s squad for the October international break, though Rice’s involvement in the England camp is now in doubt.