Madueke Sidelined for Two Months After Knee Injury Against City

Noni Madueke faces two-month layoff after knee injury sustained in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Arsenal have suffered a major setback as winger Noni Madueke has been ruled out for up to two months following a knee injury picked up in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

The 23-year-old England international, who joined from Chelsea this summer, was forced off at half-time after struggling in the opening 45 minutes. He was replaced by Bukayo Saka, making his return from injury, as Arsenal tried to keep their attacking momentum against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Early fears suggested a potential anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, which could have ended Madueke’s season. However, scans performed on Monday evening revealed only a minor rupture, saving him from surgery, according to The Athletic. Arsenal now expect the winger to return by mid-November.

Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the setback, explaining: “He had an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue.”

Matches Madueke Will Miss

Madueke’s absence comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, who are already dealing with injuries to Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard. He is set to miss key fixtures, including:

• Port Vale (Carabao Cup, Sep 24)
• Newcastle United (Premier League, Sep 28)
• Olympiacos (Champions League, Oct 1)
• West Ham United (Premier League, Oct 4)
• Fulham (Premier League, Oct 18)
• Atletico Madrid (Champions League, Oct 21)
• Crystal Palace (Premier League, Oct 26)
• Burnley (Premier League, Nov 1)
• Slavia Prague (Champions League, Nov 4)
• Sunderland (Premier League, Nov 8)

He will also sit out England’s October international break, though there is hope he could feature again before the November window.

Promising Start Interrupted

The injury halts what had been a bright start for Madueke in North London. He impressed while covering for Saka and added pace and creativity to Arsenal’s attack. He also scored recently for England in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia, boosting his international profile.

While the news is less severe than feared, the timing is difficult for both Arsenal and Madueke. Fans will now hope the winger makes a full recovery in time for the busy winter schedule.

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