Arsene Wenger has calmed fears over Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s knee injury as the French tactician revealed that the Armenian is expected to return by the end of the month.
“He (Mkhitaryan) has a medial ligament strain, he should be out for two more weeks,” Wenger stated at the press conference after overseeing Arsenal’s progression to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.
“Do not be too worried. We have a very good medical staff and he is very serious in his rehab.”
Mkhitaryan, who arrived at the Emirates from Manchester United as a part of a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez, injured his knee in the first leg of the Gunners’ quarter-final tie with CSKA Moscow.
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After thrashing the Russian outfit 4-1 in Russia, the Gunners were heavy favourites to progress to the semis but were made to sweat as the Russians stormed to a 2-0 lead in the return leg at the Emirates.
Danny Welbeck’s 75th minute strike effectively ended any chances of a miraculous comeback before Aaron Ramsey popped up with a strike in injury-time to make it 6-3 on aggregate in favour of the North Londoners.
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Arsenal joined the likes of Atletico Madrid, Olympique de Marseille and Red Bull Salzburg in the last-four of the continental competition.
Arsene Wenger’s side will know their opponents when the UEFA Europa League draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland from 1100 GMT/16.30 IST.
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With Arsenal effectively out of the top-four race in the Premier League as they trail fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by 13 points with just six games left in the campaign, the Europa League is their sole chance of ensuring participation in next season’s UEFA Champions league.