Arsenal’s Noni Madueke faces a two-month layoff due to a knee injury sustained during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is set to be sidelined for around two months after suffering a knee injury during Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Manchester City. 

The 23-year-old started the match but was replaced by Bukayo Saka at half-time after struggling with discomfort. Scans on Monday ruled out anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage, but Madueke will still miss a significant stretch of Arsenal’s fixtures.

Mikel Arteta confirmed that Madueke felt the issue early on in the match and wasn’t well enough to continue. “No, I think he had an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue,” Arteta told reporters post-match. Madueke’s absence will be a significant blow to Arsenal’s attacking options, with the winger having made an instant impact since joining the club from Chelsea in the summer.

Madueke’s injury compounds Arsenal’s attacking woes, with Kai Havertz still out following knee surgery in August and Gabriel Jesus sidelined long-term with an ACL tear. However, Arsenal’s squad depth, bolstered by summer signings like Eberechi Eze, should help the team cope with Madueke’s absence. Eze, who appeared from the bench on Sunday, may see increased starting opportunities.

Gabriel Martinelli has also been in excellent form, scoring twice in the space of a week after coming off the bench. His performances will further his case to start from the beginning, and he’s been most effective from the flanks. With Saka returning to full fitness, Arteta will have a wider pool of talented players to choose from.

The injury update means Madueke will likely miss around 11 matches for Arsenal, including Premier League fixtures against Newcastle United, Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland. He may return just after the October international break, with Arsenal’s first game back being the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23.