BREAKING: Arsenal dealt huge injury blow vs Leeds United as Mikel Arteta forced to make change

Arsenal were dealt a huge injury blow during the first half of their Premier League clash against Leeds United at Emirates Stadium, with Martin Odegaard withdrawn from the match due to injury.

Odegaard went down in the first half after a challenge from an opposition player and later appeared to be struggling with his shoulder. He looked set to come off, but then suggested to Mikel Arteta that he could carry on.

However, he was subsequently replaced by Ethan Nwaneri with around 10 minutes remaining before the break - and Arsenal will now be sweating on the fitness of their talisman. If Odegaard is out for any length of time, he will join Kai Havertz in the treatment room after the forward's knee injury against Manchester United last week.

The arrival of Eberechi Eze will soften any blow of injury to Odegaard. Eze's move to Arsenal was confirmed before kick-off against Leeds with the England international joining on a long-term contract from Crystal Palace.

Speaking to club media after hijacking Tottenham Hotspur's move for Eze, Andrea Berta said: "We are so pleased to have completed this deal to bring Eberechi to Arsenal.

"Eberechi is a creative and explosive talent with huge technical quality – also a big-game player, with his experience at international level with England also underlining his quality and character.

"There has been excellent teamwork across the club to make this transfer happen and we are very confident Eberechi will be an important addition to our squad as we continue to build for success."

Meanwhile, Arteta said: "We are absolutely delighted to bring Eberechi to Arsenal. He is a powerful and exciting player who will give us a new dimension in our attacking game.

"What stands out just as much as his talent and intelligence as a player, is the way he has worked hard throughout his career to get where he is today. His journey, his mentality, and his ambition are exactly what we want in our team, and we love how much it means to him and his family to be joining our club. We all look forward to start working with Eberechi soon."

Eze poured his heart out on social media shortly before his choice of t-shirt raised eyebrows in the gantry. The new Arsenal signing said: "Five years, man. Crazy. It feels like just yesterday I was walking through the doors joining from QPR.

"The day you gave me the chance to realise my dream of playing in the Premier League, For South London’s biggest club. From the start, I had goals set and my targets in place for what I wanted to achieve here at Palace but I had no idea of what these last 5 years would really turn out to be.

"They call us a family club because it’s impossible to truly understand what it’s like to be part of this club unless you’re in it. They’re not wrong. Throughout the challenges of the covid times, from the day I tore my achilles and the long road of recovery to that night at Selhurst against Villa when I came back, up until this very day, the love you have all shown me, the way you have all supported me, and how we’ve stood together no matter what, these are things that will live in my heart forever.

"And thats all before we made history together, lol. Wembley, man. That whole journey. Words aren’t enough to describe what we all experienced that day so I’m not gunna try, but what I will say is that God did something for us that will connect us for generations.

"The most special day of my career because God gave us what no one thought was possible for us! So after all of this, all I really want to say is thank you.

"Thank you for believing in me, thank you for giving me a chance, and thank you for the love shared that will last a lifetime. Up the Palace. God Bless, Ebz."

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.