Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is set to miss around two months after picking up a knee injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
The 23-year-old started the game but was replaced at half-time by the returning Bukayo Saka.
“He had an issue very early in the match, and he wasn’t well enough to continue,” Mikel Arteta told reporters afterwards.
Madueke’s absence adds to Arsenal’s growing list of injuries, with Kai Havertz (knee surgery), Gabriel Jesus (ACL), and captain Martin Odegaard (shoulder) all currently sidelined.
What games will Madueke miss?
Madueke’s two-month layoff means he will be unavailable for several key fixtures.
He will miss Arsenal’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Port Vale this week, as well as a run of important Premier League and Champions League matches.
If his recovery timeline goes as expected, Madueke could be out until late November. That would see him sit out clashes with:
- Newcastle (A)
- Atletico Madrid (H)
- Tottenham (H)
- Bayern Munich (H)
- Chelsea (A)
Should his return be delayed into December, he could also miss matches against Brentford, Aston Villa, and Club Brugge.
Who can cover for Madueke?
Madueke’s absence leaves Arteta short of wide options — though Saka’s return is timely.
Having just recovered from a hamstring problem, however, Arsenal will need to manage the England international’s workload carefully.
Ethan Nwaneri has previously been used off the right wing, and 15-year-old Max Dowman may be handed more cameos after brief appearances against Leeds United and Liverpool.
Madueke’s signing from Chelsea for £48.5m raised eyebrows in the summer, but his early Arsenal form has silenced many doubters.
His standout display came in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, where his direct running and dangerous crosses drove Arsenal’s attack.
Why the Madueke injury matters
Arsenal’s push for silverware last season faltered under the weight of injuries, and this latest setback is a reminder of how fragile squad depth can be.
Arsenal’s recruitment team clearly targeted improving the depth of the squad in the summer, giving Arteta more options now at his disposal, but losing Madueke’s energy and creativity for two months is still a big blow.
Arsenal fans will be hoping the winger returns in time for the busy festive period, when squad rotation becomes essential.
