Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze is set to be sidelined for at least a month with a calf injury.
The 27-year-old was not in Arsenal’s squad for Sunday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City because of a calf injury, sustained against Bayer Leverkusen last Tuesday. The midfielder went down clutching his leg in the second half against the German side, against whom he had opened the scoring, and was replaced by Kai Havertz.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Sunday that Eze was due to undergo another scan on the injury, which saw him withdraw from England’s squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Arsenal are awaiting the full prognosis, but current expectations are that he will miss between four and six weeks.
“We have to do another scan in six or seven days and wait and see the results,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told a press conference after Sunday’s final.
Prior to his injury, Eze had started eight of Arsenal’s previous 10 matches, and in total, he has scored nine goals and provided six assists for Arteta’s side since last summer’s transfer from Crystal Palace.
Arsenal return to action on April 4 away to Championship side Southampton at the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup, before a trip to Lisbon to play Sporting Club in the first leg of their Champions League last-eight tie three days later (April 7).
Arteta’s side’s next Premier League game is at home to Bournemouth on April 11, four days ahead of the visit of Sporting, with an away game at second-placed Manchester City on April 19 and a home match against Newcastle United on April 25.
“Timing of Eze’s injury is cruel”
Analysis from James McNicholas
This is a blow to Arsenal, particularly on the back of other midfield absences:
Martin Odegaard has been out since the win over Tottenham Hotspur on February 22, while Mikel Merino is expected to miss months of action with a foot injury. Ethan Nwaneri, who would have been the next in line for a midfield spot, is on loan at Marseille.
On the one hand, the timing of Eze’s injury is quite cruel: he traditionally finds his best form in spring, and had followed up a north London derby double with stunning strikes against Mansfield Town and Bayer Leverkusen.
On the other hand, the interruption in the club football calendar at least ensures some of his rehab will be eaten up by the international break. Arsenal return to action in the FA Cup, then travel to Sporting CP in the Champions League, so their next Premier League fixture is not actually until April 11.
Eze will be working hard to get back in time to play a big role in the run-in and secure his World Cup place.
Arsenal hope to welcome Odegaard back into their first-team squad sooner rather than later. The club captain lost his battle to be fit for the Carabao Cup final, but is expected to return to full training soon.
Leave a Reply