The Arsenal games Ethan Nwaneri will miss as Mikel Arteta gives ‘gutting’ injury update

Ethan Nwaneri looks set to miss several huge Arsenal games including the north London derby, as Mikel Arteta gave an injury update on the player.

Arteta has turned to the wonderkid more often in recent weeks with the Gunners struggling with injuries, particularly in attacking positions.

Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz have been sidelined but Nwaneri has done well, scoring four goals in just five starts, including the opener in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton.

However, the 17-year-old was taken off at half-time at the Amex and Arteta was deeply concerned for his fitness, saying after the match: ‘Really bad news because I think we’ve lost him.’

Arsenal are next in action on Tuesday night when they face Newcastle in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final and Arteta has now confirmed Nwaneri will miss that game and several others.

‘Unfortunately, he has picked up a muscular injury and is going to be out for a few weeks,’ the manager said in his pre-match press conference.

‘He didn’t really know [how bad the injury was at the time. “I am feeling something, what is it?”.

‘He has earned the right to step up and play for us and start some big games and impact those games in the way he has done. Gutted for him.’

If Arteta is correct, Nwaneri will sit out the remainder of Arsenal’s January fixtures – at a minimum – which includes their FA Cup third-round clash against Manchester United.

Most notably, the Gunners host arch-rivals Tottenham in the Premier League as they look to chase down Liverpool in the title race.

They also face Dinamo Zagreb and Girona in the Champions League, but the attacking midfielder might just be fit in time to feature against Manchester City in the top-flight on February 2.

Saka, Sterling, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu are still injured, while Jurrien Timber is suspended for the cup clash against Newcastle.

But in better news, Arteta revealed Havertz is ‘hopefully’ fit to play having struggled with illness but was unable to give a definitive answer.

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