Martin Odegaard was hauled off before the hour mark during Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final showdown with Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners captain has endured a difficult season where he has struggled for form and fitness, limited to only 10 starting appearances because the turn of the yr.
The Norway international returned from his latest issue earlier this month, playing the total 90 minutes against Manchester City and Newcastle United before starting again against Atletico on Wednesday night.
But in a decent contest within the Spanish capital, Arteta opted to interchange his skipper on 57 minutes with Eberechi Eze onto replace him.
Arteta can have had one eye on Saturday’s Premier League clash with Fulham, one other must-win game of their bid to win their first title for 22 years, before Atletico come to the capital for the second leg next Tuesday.
But some observers were left convinced Odegaard continues to be scuffling with injury.
The previous Real Madrid midfielder appeared to receive treatment from the club’s medical staff at the top of the first-half with TV2, Norway’s broadcaster for the match, also speculating there could also be a difficulty.
TV2’s football expert Erik Thorstvedt speculated a recent knee continues to be causing Odegaard problems.
‘It is totally unnatural that he needs to be replaced so early,’ he said after Odegaard was replaced.
‘He has something that shouldn’t be quite right. There’s something in his left knee that shouldn’t be right. It’s an awesome shame.’
Arteta didn’t disclose any details behind Odegaard’s withdrawal after the sport.
The midfielder missed three months of last season with an ankle injury, scuffling with various issues this season.
The skipper was briefly sidelined with a shoulder injury in September with a knee problem sidelining him for eight games from October to November.
Knee issues resurfaced this yr, missing a run of games in February and March.
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