Arsenal will have to make do without the services of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Carl Jenkinson for upto two months after the club on Thursday revealed that the duo had suffered injuries.
Ahead of manager Unai Emery’s pre-match press confernce, the medial department issued a statement which entailed the recovery timetable of all their injured player.
“Ainsley has sustained a small fracture to his left fibula and will be out for six to eight weeks.”
Maitland-Niles started their Premier League opener aignast Manchester City on Sunday at left-back due to injuries to Sead Kolasniac and Nacho Monreal and was giving a good account of himself before his outing was cut short due to a tangle with Kyle Walker.
“Carl has sustained a significant sprain to his right ankle and will be out for six to eight weeks.”
Since Jenkinson is not a first-team regular, his absence will not be keenly felt but Maitland-Niles is seen as one of the brightest prospects to have come out of the Arsenal Academy in recent years and his loss is a big blow indeed.
Burly Bosnian fullback Sead Kolasinac has been out of action for a while and according to the club’s latest update, he’s not likely to return to the pitch before the latter months of the year.
DON’T MISS | Watch: Barcelona forward Luis Suarez reveals new boot sponsor in this quirky ad
“Sead has a left knee injury. We are aiming for him to return to training in October.”
Club captain Laurent Koscielny hasn’t trained since rupturing his ankle last season and the club confirmed that the French defender will only resume training in the penultimate month of 2018.
MUST READ | Watch out Chelsea, Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette’s honing his free kick skills
There was some good news, however, as the Gunners confirmed that Nacho Monreal and Danny Welbeck both have resumed full training and thus, are in contention to start Saturday’s fixture against Chelsea.
With Kolasinac confirmed to miss out on the short trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Montreal could be rushed back to start.
Else, Stephan Lichsteiner is expected to deputise on the left side of their back four.
After their opening-day loss to City, the Gunners are under pressure to get their campaign on track but after their poor record on the road last season, it remains to be seen if they can come away with three points.