Mikel Arteta gives crushing Ethan Nwaneri news as starlet joins Bukayo Saka in injury room | Football | Sport

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Ethan Nwaneri now faces a spell on the sidelines. The 17-year-old was on the scoresheet in his side’s 1-1 at Brighton on Saturday, but the Spaniard has now confirmed he won’t be available for his side’s League Cup game with Newcastle tomorrow.

In his pre-match press conference, Arteta also admitted he didn’t know how long exactly the forward would be out for.

“Unfortunately, he’s picked up an injury,” he said. “Muscular, he’s going to be out for a few weeks.”

Nwaneri has been a revelation just breaking into the first-team fold this season. The England Under-19 international has made 18 club appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring five times.

It’s the latest hammer blow to Arsenal as they continue to try and fight to stay in the Premier League title race. The draw at the Amex Stadium leaves them six points off leaders Liverpool, having played a game more.

Arteta was already dealing with the absence of Bukayo Saka after he picked up a hamstring injury during the festive period. He’s now been ruled out until at least February, while Kai Havertz has also missed the last two games with illness.

Asked if the German striker would now be available, Arteta replied: “I hope so but I don’t want to say yes. Because last time (before Brighton) I said he was going to be fit and then he wasn’t fit.”

Arteta admitted he had “probably not” known an injury crisis like it at the club since taking over a manager. And he refused to rule out looking at new players in the January transfer window.

The blow comes ahead of a frantic period for the Gunners. After the semi-final first leg with Newcastle, they host Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Three days later on Wednesday, January 15, comes a north London derby at home to Tottenham. And that’s followed by four more games in January, including two in the Champions League.

Arteta was last month scathing over the fixture schedule, accusing the authorities of trying to turn players into “physical monsters.” After Saka’s injury, he described the amount of games played in December and January as “absolutely crazy.”