Arteta faces a shock as one of Arsenal’s top stars is sidelined for two months

23/09/2025 22:02:00 PANDATV

Arsenal is confronted with a significant blow as Noni Madueke, one of the team’s most promising stars, must sit out for around two months due to a knee injury.

According to The Athletic, the 23-year-old Englishman encountered trouble during the first half of the 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday (September 21, 2025). Although he was fortunate to avoid an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Monday’s examination confirmed he requires at least six to eight weeks to recover, causing headaches for manager Mikel Arteta and the England team.

Madueke, a £48.5 million signing from Chelsea last summer, has quickly integrated into Arsenal. He made an impact by scoring in England’s 5-0 victory over Serbia during the recent international break and successfully took on the role of Bukayo Saka’s replacement on the right wing during Saka’s injury. However, Madueke’s withdrawal at halftime against Man City sounded alarm bells. Arteta confirmed after the match: "Noni had a problem early in the game and couldn’t continue playing."

Madueke sidelined for 2 months

This injury leaves Arsenal short of attacking options, especially with captain Martin Ødegaard sidelined due to a shoulder issue, Kai Havertz recovering from knee surgery, and Gabriel Jesus yet to return. Given the expected recovery period, Madueke will miss at least 11 matches, including important Premier League clashes away at Newcastle (September 28) and Chelsea (November 30), as well as Champions League fixtures against Olympiacos (October 1), Atletico Madrid (October 21), and Slavia Prague (November 4). Notably, he might also be absent for the North London derby against Tottenham (November 23) and the crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich (November 26).

This shock not only impacts Arsenal but also affects the England national team. Madueke is almost certain to miss two international breaks in October (against Wales and Latvia) and November (World Cup qualifiers versus Serbia and Albania). Coach Thomas Tuchel will need to find replacements for the "Three Lions" attack.

Arteta is expected to give an update on Madueke’s status during the press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup match against Port Vale on September 24. Facing a congested fixture list, Arsenal must cope with a thin squad. Saka’s comeback is a bright spot, but losing Madueke—who is currently in great form—is a significant setback for the "Gunners" ambitions in both domestic and European competitions. Arteta will need other stars to step up to navigate this challenging phase.

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