Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Noni Madueke picked up an injury during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
The former Chelsea forward was the Gunners’ most potent attacking threat during an otherwise frustrating first half, only to be replaced by Bukayo Saka at half-time.
Arteta has now confirmed that Madueke suffered an injury during the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, and was unable to continue after the break.
The Arsenal manager said after the game: "He had an issue very early in the match and he wasn't well enough to continue."
It is another blow for Arsenal and Arteta, who was also without captain Martin Odegaard and defender Piero Hincapie, but was able to welcome back both William Saliba and Eze.
Speaking before the game, Arteta explained: “Odegaard wasn’t fit enough to be [on the bench], Piero as well, he’s out of the squad, but thankfully we have Bukayo back. That’s what we want, we have a strong bench.”
Arteta was later asked about bringing on both Saka and Eberechi Eze at half-time, off the back of a first half in which Arsenal created very little.
He said: “I think it's very clear what we wanted to do. We started the game very well, we completely dominated.
“I think after they scored, by doing absolutely nothing before that, we were a bit shaky for five minutes, and after that we still got the grip of the game again and started to dominate it.
“In the second half, it was a continuation of that with one different player and then with two or three different players.”
