Noni Madueke injury confirmed, faces two months out in major Arsenal setback | OneFootball

Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is set for up to two months on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

The 23-year-old started the game at the Emirates Stadium but was withdrawn at half-time, with Bukayo Saka coming on in his place.

Manager Mikel Arteta revealed afterwards that Madueke had been struggling from the opening stages.

Scans carried out on Monday confirmed that the winger has avoided anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage. However, he will miss a significant run of fixtures for both club and country.

The timeline for his return places the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23 as a potential comeback date.

Arsenal face Bayern Munich and Chelsea in quick succession after that, in what could be a pivotal week in their campaign.

Madueke joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a £48.5 million deal this summer and has featured in all six of the club’s matches this season.

He impressed when stepping in for Saka, particularly in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, and his absence leaves Arteta with another selection problem.

The injury is another blow to Arsenal’s attacking options, with Kai Havertz still sidelined following knee surgery in August and Gabriel Jesus continuing his recovery from an ACL tear sustained in January.

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres is the only fit recognised striker in the squad.

Arsenal have also been without captain Martin Odegaard, who is nursing a shoulder problem, although he is expected to return sooner than his attacking teammates.

Injuries hampered Arsenal’s bid for silverware last season, and Arteta will hope his squad can absorb another setback.

The immediate challenge will be balancing minutes for Saka, who only recently returned from a hamstring problem, while ensuring cover on the right flank in Madueke’s absence.