EPL: Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri Out for Weeks with Muscle Injury

Ethan Nwaneri sidelined for a few weeks with a muscular injury, says Mikel Arteta.
The 17-year-old scored in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Brighton before the injury.
Nwaneri’s injury comes after a breakthrough season, including his Premier League debut.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that teenage attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri will be sidelined for “a few weeks” due to a muscular injury.

The 17-year-old was substituted at halftime during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton after scoring the opening goal.

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Nwaneri had made his first Premier League start just three days earlier, helping Arsenal secure a 3-1 victory over Brentford.

“Unfortunately, he has picked up an injury and will be out for a few weeks,” Arteta said on Monday.

Nwaneri has been making a strong impact this season, with Saturday’s goal marking his fifth in 18 appearances. His increased playing time came after a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka, who is expected to be out for several weeks.

On Nwaneri’s injury, Arteta added: “He didn’t really know, to be fair. He said, ‘I am feeling something but I don’t really know what it is’.

“He has earned the right to step up and play for us and now he has started some games – some big games – and impacted those games in the way he has done, in different positions too.

“I am gutted for him because the injury is going to stop that, but it is another step in that development phase that he is in. I am really happy with the way he is going.”

Raheem Sterling was also injured days before Saka, and Arteta said the on-loan Chelsea forward will be back “hopefully very soon”.

Arsenal secured the 2019-20 FA Cup in Mikel Arteta’s first season as manager but have not claimed a major title since then.

The Gunners will face Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday, followed by a third-round FA Cup clash against Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday.