Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has been dominated out for “just a few weeks” as Arsenal’s harm worries worsen earlier than the EFL Cup semi-final first leg towards Newcastle.
Key man Bukayo Saka has had surgical procedure on his hamstring harm which might hold him out long run and 17-year-old Nwaneri impressed in his place on the fitting wing towards Brighton on the weekend.
Nevertheless, after scoring he got here off at half-time and was changed by Gabriel Martinelli.
“Sadly he has picked up a muscular harm, he can be out for just a few weeks,” Supervisor Mikel Arteta instructed reporters on Monday.
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“He has earned the fitting to step up and play for us and now he has began some massive video games, and impacted these video games in the way in which he has executed in several positions, too.
“So I’m gutted for him as a result of the harm goes to cease that. However it’s one other step within the improvement section that he’s in.”
Ahead Raheem Sterling and defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu stay sidelined and ahead Kai Havertz, who missed the North London aspect’s final two video games with sickness, can be uncertain for the house recreation towards Newcastle.
“I hope (Havertz) returns to motion, however I don’t need to say sure as a result of final time I mentioned he could be match and he wasn’t match,” Arteta mentioned.
Requested about bringing in reinforcements within the January switch window, the Spaniard mentioned: “What occurs out there, we’re very alert. It’s not a sure however it’s not a no.”
Arteta was filled with reward for Newcastle, who’ve gained their final six video games throughout all competitions, together with spectacular victories over Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
“They’re a tricky opponent. They’ve excellent particular person gamers,” Arteta mentioned, noting Alexander Isak’s wealthy vein of kind, with the Swede scoring 14 objectives in 21 video games for Newcastle, together with seven straight within the Premier League.
“Clearly he’s a prime participant, he’s in prime kind. He’s scoring lots of objectives.”
The second leg takes place on 5 February.