Mathew Ryan, the former Arsenal goalkeeper now with AZ Alkmaar, has sustained a serious freak injury during a gym training session, putting him on the sidelines for crucial upcoming games.

Former Arsenal player and current AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Mathew Ryan suffered a serious injury during a training session.

Ryan, known for his intense fitness regimen, sustained a broken eye socket following an accident in the gym at the club’s training complex in Wijdewormer.

This injury occurred just a day after AZ’s 4-1 victory over Almere City.

Ryan, renowned for his dedication to fitness and often seen utilising gym equipment immediately post-match, suffered this mishap after AZ’s latest Conference League match against Zrinjski Mostar.

The impact of Ryan’s injury is substantial for AZ, with the goalkeeper set to miss crucial upcoming matches. His absence will be felt in the all-important game against Legia Warsaw in Poland on Thursday and the high-profile encounter against Arsenal’s Tuesday night opponents, PSV, on Sunday.

The situation is compounded by the uncertainty over the fitness of defenders Bruno Martins Indi and Riechedly Bazoer, both of whom are currently questionable for the Legia Warsaw match.

Additionally, midfielder Sven Mijnans is sidelined with a knee injury until at least the winter break.