“Time to start being concerned” – Arsenal player fitness starting to cause worry

Arsenal’s season has largely been defined by control, structure and attacking cohesion, with Martin Ødegaard again playing a central role in that identity – at least when available.

Before his recent injury setbacks, the Norwegian was once again one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders. Across the first half of the campaign, he contributed goals and assists at a steady rate, while remaining Arsenal’s main creative hub.

Data from FBref and WhoScored show he was averaging over 2 key passes per game, alongside strong numbers for progressive passes and final third involvement.

He also remained heavily involved in Arsenal’s pressing structure. Ødegaard ranked among the team’s leaders for pressures in advanced areas, often setting the tone without the ball. That mix of creativity and work rate has made him difficult to replace, even in a squad with growing depth.

However, that influence has faded in recent months.

Fitness issues starting to raise questions

Norwegian outlet VG report that concerns are now growing around Martin Ødegaard’s physical condition, with the midfielder struggling through a knee issue that has limited his involvement throughout 2026. He missed 8 games – between October and November 2025 – with another problem in his knee.

He has featured in only around a third of Arsenal’s minutes this calendar year. As a result, he has recently been reduced to watching matches from the bench, including the latest Premier League fixture.

The situation is now serious enough to affect his international prospects. Norway manager Ståle Solbakken is set to name his squad for upcoming friendlies, but Ødegaard is not expected to play a major role – if he is included at all.

VG quote pundit Vegard Aulstad, who believes the tone around the injury may need to change: “We have probably been a bit naive and said it’s good that the key players get rest. Now it’s time to start being concerned.”

Managing risk ahead of the summer

There is still some caution from other voices in Norway. TV 2 commentator Simen Stamsø Møller insists it is too early for alarm, but admits the timeline is key.

“If the situation is still like this in May, then there is reason to worry,” he said.

For now, the expectation is that Norway will avoid taking risks. Maintaining a good relationship with Arsenal is also part of that thinking, especially with the club entering a crucial phase of the season.

Ødegaard himself has acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. Writing in Arsenal’s match-day programme, he admitted: “It has been difficult for me with the knee injury lately, but I am working as hard as I can to get back to top form.”

Mikel Arteta has not ruled him out of upcoming fixtures, including the League Cup final at Wembley. Still, the manager made it clear that availability will depend on how the player responds in training.

What happens next

For Arsenal, this is less about immediate panic and more about timing.

Martin Ødegaard remains one of the team’s most important players when fit. However, repeated absences are starting to disrupt his rhythm at a key stage of the season.

With the Premier League run-in underway and major fixtures ahead, Arsenal will need to carefully balance recovery and reintegration. At the same time, Norway are watching closely, knowing their captain may arrive at the summer with limited match sharpness.

If the current pattern continues into May, what is now a manageable issue could quickly become a much bigger concern – for both club and country.