Arsenal injury blow as Mikel Arteta confirms Ethan Nwaneri facing spell out | OneFootball

Teenager has been ruled out for ‘a few weeks’ with injury he suffered at Brighton

Arsenal have been dealt another injury blow after Mikel Arteta confirmed Ethan Nwaneri is facing a spell on the sidelines.

The teenager was forced off at half-time after scoring the opening goal and Arteta said after the game it was “bad news”.

Issuing an update on Nwaneri on Monday, Arteta said: “Unfortunately he has picked up an injury and is going to be out for a few weeks. It’s a muscular injury.”

Nwaneri was forced off after scoring at Brighton on Saturday

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“He didn’t really know [what the injury was] to be fair. So he said: ‘I am feeling something, I don’t know what is it?’

“Obviously he has earned the right to step up and play for us. And now he has started some big games as well and impacted those games that he has done, in different positions as well.

Arsenal are already without Bukayo Saka for a few months due to a hamstring injury and Raheem Sterling is also sidelined with a knee issue.

Nwaneri had impressed in back-to-back Premier League starts against Brentford and Brighton, as Arteta looks to cope without Saka.

Losing Nwaneri is another blow for Arsenal, who were also without Kai Havertz at Brighton due to illness.

Havertz also missed the win over Brentford on New Year’s Day, with Martin Odegaard only fit enough for the bench at Brighton due to the same illness that has hit the Gunners camp.

Speaking ahead of the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle on Tuesday, Arteta said he hoped Havertz would be fit to return.

Arteta said: “I hope so, but I don’t want to say yes because last time I said I think he was going to be fit and then he wasn’t fit.”

Arsenal have been struggling with illness in camp, but Arteta said he was hopeful that it would not force more players to miss the clash with Newcastle.