Arsenal dealt brutal double injury blow as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard forced off in Leeds win

Mikel Arteta has expressed his concerns over the injuries to Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka during their 5-0 win against Leeds United.

Gunners captain Odegaard was the first to be substituted with what appeared to be a shoulder issue during the first half.

He attempted to continue playing on two occasions but Arteta chose to bring him off for Ethan Nwaneri.

Saka, who scored the second goal for Arsenal before half-time, took the captain’s armband from Odegaard.

However, he later picked up a knock himself, with the winger looking uncomfortable whilst sitting on the Emirates Stadium turf.

Leandro Trossard was brought on to replace Saka, with Arsenal now having to deal with two key players potentially being out of action.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Arteta said: “Martin looks like a shoulder issue so we will have to scan tomorrow and understand how bad it is.

“And Bukayo had to come off after sprinting and when he was wrestling with the defender he felt something in his hamstring I think.

“It is the other side [to his previous injury] but it is still not good.”

Arteta added: “I don’t know [how long they will be out injured]. We already lost Kai [Havertz] which is a big player for us and now Bukayo and Martin.

“That is why the squad has to be well-equipped. It is going to be a long season and we are going to need a lot of players in order to achieve what we want.”

Arteta also told beIN Sports: “I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet. But Bukayo, I took him off for something that looks significant.”

“It definitely looks muscular,” Jamie O’Hara said live on talkSPORT as Saka walked off the pitch. “He knew straight away.”

Jason Cundy added: “You can see the way he pulls up. You can’t, from that, work out what muscle it might be.”

“I feel for the boy. You’ve got the England squad coming up,” Cundy added on the 23-year-old.

“To be two games in, or not even a game-and-a-half into the season, in what is a World Cup year… For him to pick up an injury so soon…”

Arsenal injury woes

Injuries to Odegaard and Saka have only added to Arsenal’s fitness issues with just two games played.

Gabriel Jesus has been a long-term absentee from the squad amid his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Kai Havertz has also suffered a knee injury, although the severity of it is not yet known.

Ben White and Christian Norgaard also missed the win against Leeds.

Arsenal will now have to wait on the fitness of Odegaard and Saka ahead of next weekend’s crucial clash against Liverpool.

However, they could travel to Anfield on August 31 sitting top of the Premier League following the home win over Leeds.

Jurrien Timber netted the opening goal just after the half-hour mark, with Saka extending their advantage in first half stoppage-time.

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres scored his first goal for the club just moments into the second half before Timber got his second.

Gyokeres then made it 5-0 in the latter stages with a penalty after 15-year-old debutant Max Dowman was fouled by Anton Stach.

Arsenal have scored six goals from two matches in the league following last weekend’s narrow 1-0 triumph at Manchester United.

They also announced the arrival of Eberechi Eze in a £67.5million deal from Crystal Palace before kick-off.