Arsenal have been accused of sending Henrik Mkhitaryan on loan to AS Roma despite being injured.
The 30-year-old joined the Serie A outfit on a season-long loan deal on deadline day back in August after a disappointing spell in north London.
The Armenian playmaker scored on his debut and registered an assist in Roma's clash with Leece at the weekend.
However, that came at a cost, after scans confirmed the former Borussia Dortmund man would be out for at least three weeks with a thigh strain.
That is a big blow for the Serie A outfit, with Mkhitaryan set to miss games against Cagliari, Sampdoria and AC Milan as well as two Europa League fixtures.
However, Roma boss Paulo Fonseca has suggested that it was an injury Mkhitaryan already had and picked up whilst still at Arsenal.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of their Europa League clash with Wolfsberger, the former Shakhtar Donetsk manager confirmed that the midfielder had been complaining about the knock before he arrived at the club.
He said: "He was already complaining of a discomfort to the adductor and with this density of matches it was clear he could feel some discomfort,” Fonseca said.
"As a preventive measure I had kept him out against Atalanta and he had recovered well. Then he got hurt against Lecce."
Roma sit fifth in the Serie A table after five matches, with three wins already on the board.
They thrashed Istanbul Basaksehir in their opening Europa League group stage clash, but drew 1-1 with Wolfsberger.
