Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is set for two months on the sidelines with a knee injury, but he’s avoided any damage to his ACL, according to a report.
David Ornstein and Art de Roche report for The Athletic that Noni Madueke is expected to be sidelined for around two months with a knee injury, having suffered the problem in the first half of Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City.
The report confirms that Madueke is understood to have avoided damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, which is a relief. Nonetheless, he’s set for a spell on the sidelines now.
Madueke will miss key games away to Newcastle United and at home to Atletico Madrid, among others, but one positive is that there are two international breaks over the next two months.
A two-month injury would have been much more impactful to Arsenal at the start of December, for example.
Exactly two months from now is the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, November 23rd, which is followed by a home game against Bayern Munich and an away game against Chelsea.
Madueke will probably be targeting that period of games for a comeback if at all possible.
Mikel Arteta had confirmed the injury to Madueke after the draw against Manchester City, saying: “He had an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue.”
Arteta will be in front of the media later today, holding a press conference before Arsenal’s League Cup match against Port Vale in midweek, so we may get another update from the manager.
In Madueke’s absence, Arsenal will be relying on Bukayo Saka as their first-choice winger. But with Saka only recently back from injury, he may need help from the likes of Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri, both of whom have played on the right before.