Arsenal star ruled out for a month in devastating calf injury setback
Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze is expected to be sidelined for around a month after suffering a calf injury during the club’s recent victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The 27-year-old picked up the problem during the Champions League clash last week.
The injury forced him to miss Arsenal’s EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Eze was also forced to withdraw from the latest England squad called up by Thomas Tuchel.
Initial assessments suggest the attacking midfielder could be unavailable for between four and six weeks.
Arsenal are still awaiting the results of a detailed scan to determine the full extent of the problem.
Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that the player will undergo further medical evaluation.
The timing of the injury represents a setback for Arsenal as they approach a decisive period of the season.
The Gunners remain in contention for multiple trophies.
Arsenal are competing in the Premier League title race while also progressing in both the Champions League and the FA Cup.
Eze has become an increasingly influential figure in Arteta’s squad during the campaign.
His creativity and ability to operate between the lines have provided an additional attacking dimension for the team.
The midfielder’s absence therefore removes one of Arsenal’s most dangerous attacking options at a crucial stage.
However, there is also optimism within the club that other players will help cover the gap during his recovery.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is nearing a return after recovering from a knee injury.
The Norwegian midfielder has missed the past month but is expected to regain fitness shortly after the international break.
Odegaard has already withdrawn from the Norway national football team squad in order to focus on his recovery.
His return could provide an important boost to Arsenal’s midfield options.
The international break may also help minimise the overall impact of Eze’s absence.
Arsenal will not play again until early April following the pause in domestic competitions.
That schedule means Eze could potentially return before the end of the season’s decisive run-in.
Arsenal’s next match after the international break will be an FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.
Arteta has frequently rotated his squad in the FA Cup this season, which could help manage the workload of other attacking players.
Nevertheless, the club will hope Eze’s injury proves less severe than initially feared.
The midfielder has been one of Arsenal’s most creative performers this season.
A quick recovery would therefore be a welcome boost as the team continues its pursuit of silverware across multiple competitions.
The post Arsenal star ruled out for a month in devastating calf injury setback first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.