- Nwaneri started his second Premier League game in three days against Brighton
- The 17-year-old scored the first goal before being forced off due to injury at half-time.
- Hear It's all starting! Jack Grealish will not be allowed to roam at Man City… will be sold this summer if things don't change
Arsenal have been dealt another injury blow after teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri was ruled out for the rest of the month on the eve of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle.
Nwaneri, 17, made his second consecutive Premier League start in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Brighton by opening the scoring in the first half before being taken off at half-time.
Nwaneri, a product of Arsenal's Hale End academy, got his chance as a result of injuries to Bukayo Saka (the England player is expected to be out until March) and Raheem Sterling.
But Mikel Arteta now faces being without the teenager for the whole of January with seven games left this month, starting with the first leg of the semi-final against Newcastle at the Emirates.
“Unfortunately, he has suffered a muscle injury and will be out for a few weeks,” said Arteta, without either the Arsenal manager or the club clarifying which part of the player's body was affected.
'He didn't really know it had been fair. He said, “I feel something, but I don't really know what it is.”
Ethan Nwaneri will be ruled out for several weeks with a muscle injury suffered during Arsenal's draw against Brighton.
The 17-year-old started his second game in three days for the Gunners and scored the first goal.
His absence leaves a gaping hole in Arsenal's attack, with Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling currently out.
“He's earned the right to step up and play for us and now he's started some big games, and he's also impacted those games the way he has in different positions.”
“So I'm gutted for him because the injury is going to stop that. But it's another step in the development phase he's in.”
Kai Havertz could return from illness against Newcastle after the Germany international was unable to take part in the games against Brentford and Brighton.
Martin Odegaard, who is fighting the same virus, was only fit to start on the Brighton bench. And Arteta revealed that only eight of his first-team players were able to turn up for training on Monday.
Arteta continued: “Today we had seven or eight players with us and we just had to fill the team, which is unknown.” I can't change it, so let's take advantage of the things we can get from them to improve them.”
The Gunners remain six points behind Liverpool in the title race (having played one more game than the Reds) after the draw at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. Now he focuses his attention on the cup competitions.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle stand in the way of Arteta's men reaching the Carabao Cup final, a tournament the Gunners have not won in more than three decades, as the Spaniard bids for the second trophy of his five years in office. he oversaw Arsenal's 2020 FA Cup triumph.
“I'm very excited to play,” Arteta added. 'Local blow, semi-final, the opportunity to earn the right to be in a final. Starts tomorrow. Two games and obviously it will be two long games against a very competitive team. “We know it, but I'm very excited and we need a great atmosphere in our stadium.”
Newcastle have won six games in a row and Alexander Isak has scored a remarkable nine goals in his last seven league games.
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson recently urged Arsenal to “break the bank” to sign the Swedish striker.
When asked how he plans to prevent Isak from attacking again, Arteta replied: “He is obviously a great player in top form and scores a lot of goals. And trying to minimize the opponent's strengths is a big part of the plan when we play against any opponent.” .
