Arsenal’s £48m forward, Noni Madueke is expected to be out for six to eight weeks after suffering a knee injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City, a huge setback for Mikel Arteta’s already depleted attack.
The 23-year-old England international was substituted at half-time of the Premier League clash at the Etihad, with Bukayo Saka replacing him on his return from a hamstring problem.
Madueke underwent a scan on Monday, and according to report, while the injury is serious enough to rule him out for up to two months, it is not believed to be an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.
Medical staff are said to be waiting for the swelling around his knee to subside before delivering a final diagnosis, but Arsenal expect him to be out until at least mid-November, with six weeks described as the best-case scenario.
Major blow for Arteta and England
The setback compounds Arsenal’s attacking crisis, with the following already sidelinded;
- Martin Ødegaard
- Kai Havertz
- Gabriel Jesus
It also comes as a blow for England boss Thomas Tuchel, who handed Madueke his first senior international start in September.
The winger scored his first goal for his country in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia and was tipped to play a key role in the next round of fixtures.
Madueke will now miss England’s upcoming games against Wales and Latvia, and is a doubt for November qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.
Key games Noni Madueke will miss
If the current prognosis holds, Madueke will be absent for Arsenal’s next two Champions League matches against Atlético Madrid and Slavia Praha.
In the Premier League, he could be ruled out of clashes with Brighton, Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham, Sunderland, and potentially the first north London derby of the season against Tottenham on November 23.
Bright start cut short
Madueke joined Arsenal in the summer from Chelsea in a £48m ($64.6m) move, quickly establishing himself as a vital part of Arteta’s attack. He has started four of Arsenal’s opening five league games, impressing with his ability to play on both wings.
His promising form translated onto the international stage, where he became a regular under Tuchel and scored in only his second England appearance.
Both Arsenal and England will hope he can return in time for the busy winter schedule.
