Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares‘ loan spell at Lazio has suffered an early setback as the Portuguese left-back was forced off with a muscle injury just 22 minutes into his debut against Trapani.

Nuno Tavares, who joined Lazio on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy under certain conditions, was named in the starting lineup for the pre-season friendly. However, his debut was cut short due to a left thigh problem, raising concerns about his fitness and availability for the upcoming season.

This is not the first time Tavares has been sidelined with a muscle injury. He missed a number matches for Nottingham Forest last season due to similar issues.

Prior to the injury, Tavares expressed his excitement about joining Lazio and his desire to make a lasting impact at the club. In a recent interview, he revealed that he consulted former Arsenal teammate Matteo Guendouzi, who is now at Lazio, before making the move.

“I feel very good, I understood straight away that this is a great club,” Tavares said. “I am quite surprised at how much I already feel at home. I am in a great club that is fighting for the title, and this is the most important thing. I am here to help the team achieve its objectives.”

Tavares’ loan deal includes an obligation for Lazio to purchase him permanently if certain sporting conditions are met, most likely related to the number of appearances he makes. While the exact details of the deal remain undisclosed, it is believed that Arsenal would receive a fee of €9m (£7.6m) plus additional earnings from a sell-on clause exceeding 25% if the permanent transfer goes through.

Arsenal will be closely monitoring Tavares’ progress and recovery, as his performances at Lazio could significantly impact the financial terms of the eventual permanent transfer.