Martin Odegaard pulls out of Arsenal team to face Nurnberg

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was forced to pull out of the starting lineup at the last minute for the club’s opening pre-season friendly against Nurnberg on Thursday evening.

Odegaard was named in a strong XI by manager Mikel Arteta for the Game at the Max Morlock Stadion and was set to partner Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard in midfield.

But Odegaard wasn’t among the players that walked out onto the pitch for kick-off, much to the confusion of supporters. Arsenal then quickly confirmed that the Norway international, who took his game to new levels in 2022/23 as the club challenged for the Premier League title for the first time in 15 years, had suffered a knock during the warm-up. Gabriel took the armband in his place.

The exact nature of the injury has not been specified, but it is not an ideal start for a season in which the Gunners are hoping to remain competitive in the Premier League and upon their return to the Champions League.

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An ambitious programme of recruitment is already well underway, with £65m signing Kai Havertz among the substitutes in Germany. Further announcements regarding Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and West Ham captain Declan Rice are still to come.

Arsenal led the Premier League for 248 days last season before Manchester City surged through in the final weeks of the campaign to take the trophy, a record without actually winning the title. The Gunners’ eventual points tally of 84 was also their best since the 2003/04 Invincibles season.

"I think this will bother me for the rest of my life," Odegaard reflected last month. "We were very close, I almost managed to achieve my dream, I think it will be painful for the rest of my life but we have to try again next year, when we manage to do that [win the league] it will surely be easier."

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On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou reacts to the delay over Declan Rice's move from West Ham to Arsenal. If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!

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