Arsenal face eight-player injury crisis as Madueke limps out of England duty

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Arsenal could be without as many as eight players when competitive football resumes after the March international break, with Noni Madueke becoming the latest casualty during England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay on Friday evening.

The winger was forced off just 38 minutes into the friendly after colliding with Rodrigo Aguirre, adding to Mikel Arteta’s growing injury concerns ahead of a crucial period in the season. Footage showed the 24-year-old leaving the stadium wearing a brace on his left leg, with his return date now uncertain.

Mounting injury concerns

Madueke’s setback compounds an already lengthy injury list that threatens to derail Arsenal’s treble aspirations. The Gunners remain in contention for the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup after missing out on the Carabao Cup to Manchester City last weekend.

Eberechi Eze faces the longest spell on the sidelines, with the attacking midfielder expected to be out for four-to-six weeks due to a calf injury sustained during Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen. His absence could extend into late April or early May.

William Saliba offers more hope for Arsenal’s immediate fixtures. The centre-back withdrew from France duty with ankle pain but should be available for the FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton on April 4, requiring just a minimum 10-day rest period according to the French Football Federation.

Key players sidelined

Martin Odegaard remains a doubt after missing the Carabao Cup final through a knee injury that has kept him out for around a month. The captain’s return timeline remains unclear ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup tie.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber have both withdrawn from international duty with knee and ongoing injury issues respectively. Brazil confirmed imaging tests revealed an injury to Gabriel’s right knee, while Timber has yet to feature since being forced off against Everton earlier this month.

Leandro Trossard pulled out of Belgium’s squad due to a hip problem, though little information has emerged about the severity of his condition. The forward’s availability for Arsenal’s return to action remains unknown.

Mikel Merino faces the longest absence of all, with his ankle injury likely ending his season. The midfielder was spotted at Wembley last weekend on crutches and wearing a protective boot, with the club unwilling to rush his recovery ahead of Spain’s World Cup campaign this summer.

Arsenal face a demanding schedule upon their return, with five matches in 15 days requiring careful squad rotation. The Gunners’ FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton on April 4 will provide the first test of how Arteta navigates his depleted squad through this critical phase of the campaign.