Arsenal hit with fresh injury headache as star man forced off during international game

Today at 05:25 AM

If Arsenal fans were sick of the international break before, they’ll be furious now after ANOTHER star picked up an injury.

This comes after Leandro Trossard hobbled off during Belgium’s defeat to Israel in the UEFA Nations League.

Trossard lasted just 37 minutes of the match before being forced off in a concerning blow to Mikel Arteta.

Reflecting on the injury, Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco, who was later sacked after the match, said: “It was a difficult game for a number of reasons.

“The players we brought out had never played or trained together.

“There were a lot of injuries before the game and we also lost Trossard and [Zeno] Debast during the game. It wasn’t a good game, but the conditions were very difficult.”

Trossard isn’t the only player who has been dealt an injury during the November international break.

England stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both withdrew from Lee Carsley‘s due to injury concerns.

The duo were both brought off during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea before the international break with Arteta declaring that neither would be ready to compete for the Three Lions.

Rice’s absence would be a big blow, while losing Saka and Trossard would leave Arsenal with just Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli as senior wingers.

Elsewhere Ben White is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing a minor knee procedure.

White’s injury adds to a mounting crisis in defence with the Gunners already without long-term absentees Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori and Kieran Tierney.

In brighter news, Arsenal hope Martin Odegaard will be fit to feature after returning against Chelsea before the international break.

The midfielder did not travel with Norway’s national team in order to build his fitness and be ready for the clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Explaining his decision: "I got through the match at the weekend, but it was a rather abrupt transition from the last nine weeks.

"In this kind of process, you don't just go from being injured to suddenly being completely healthy. You tend to have a reaction to what happens, and then it's about how you react to it. Together with the NFF's medical team, we've looked at it and agreed that it's better for me to go back and make a full recovery.

"We have had an open and nice discussion. I have been talking to Ståle ever since I was injured, and of course more intensively in recent weeks.

“This is not about what Arsenal has said, or what Ståle has said. It's about what my situation is."

Arsenal are next in action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 3pm.