Arsenal opponents face striker crisis after new injury update | OneFootball

Preston North End are facing a bit of a striker crisis against Arsenal, with Will Keane likely to join Milutin Osmajic in missing the clash.

PRESTON, ENGLAND: Will Keane of Preston North End celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Luton Town FC at Deepdale on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

Preston North End could be without Will Keane for a couple of months following his recent injury, despite initial reports suggesting he’d only face a few weeks out.

Alan Nixon writes on his Patreon that Keane could now be out for up to eight weeks, with Preston due to host Arsenal in the League Cup in just 23 days.

Even a four-week spell on the sidelines would be enough to rule Keane out of that match, let alone eight.

PRESTON, ENGLAND: Will Keane of Preston North End during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Stoke City at Deepdale on March 9, 2024. (Photo by Gary Oakley/Getty Images)

Milutin Osmajic will also miss the Arsenal game, suspended after biting an opponent.

Osmajic ended up getting an eight-game ban after deliberation by the FA, a ban which only just came into effect prior to Saturday’s match against Burnley. The Arsenal fixture will be the fifth he’ll sit out.

With Layton Stewart, Felipe, and Ched Evans all yet to play a minute for Preston this season, their most realistic centre-forward starter against Arsenal is Emil Riis.

Riis started against Burnley on Saturday in the absence of Keane and Osmajic, but he only has one goal in 10 games this season.

PRESTON, ENGLAND: Sam Greenwood of Preston North End reacts after being shown a red card during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Blackburn Rovers FC at Deepdale on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Gary Oakley/Getty Images)

Another option is perhaps the most intriguing, with former Arsenal academy striker Sam Greenwood currently on loan with Preston from Leeds United.

Greenwood himself has just finished serving a three-match ban for a red card against Blackburn Rovers last month. The 22-year-old has also featured more regularly in midfield than up front so far this season.

But with two goals in three games in the League Cup, as well as scoring twice in their extended penalty shootout against Fulham, Greenwood could prove Preston’s biggest goal threat against Arsenal – whatever position he starts in.