Noni Madueke set to miss 6-8 weeks through injury | OneFootball

Arsenal forward Noni Madueke (23) is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks after sustaining a knee injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, in what represents a significant setback for both club and country.

The 23-year-old, who joined from Chelsea in the summer, was replaced at half-time by Bukayo Saka on Saturday. While early assessments have ruled out anterior cruciate ligament damage, medical staff are waiting for swelling to ease before issuing a final diagnosis. Even so, Arsenal sources have indicated that a six-week absence from the sidelines is considered the best-case scenario, according to BBC Sport.

For Mikel Arteta, the news comes at an unwelcome time. Madueke has impressed in his early months in north London, adding directness and dynamism to Arsenal’s attack. His enforced absence will deprive the Gunners of a key option across a demanding run of fixtures, both in the Premier League and Champions League.

Internationally, the injury also represents a blow for England head coach Thomas Tuchel. Madueke will miss October’s fixtures against Wales and Latvia, while his availability for World Cup qualifiers in November remains doubtful. Should recovery extend into mid-month, he risks being absent from clashes against Serbia and Albania.

The timeline could rule Madueke out of Arsenal’s league match against Sunderland on 8 November, though a potential return for the north London derby with Tottenham on 23 November remains possible.

GFN | Finn Entwistle