Incoming Arsenal teenager faces two to three months out with ankle injury
Arsenal's incoming teenage talent Andria Bartishvili is set to miss between two and three months after sustaining a significant ankle injury, a setback that will cost him valuable European experience before he even arrives in north London.
The 17 year old agreed to join Arsenal in the summer in a deal worth around £4million, beating competition from Liverpool and other top clubs for his signature. He has spent the current campaign on loan from Kolkheti 1913 at fellow Georgian side Iberia 1999, featuring in the UEFA Conference League, but that European involvement now looks set to be cut short.
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Iberia 1999 confirmed the extent of the injury in a statement posted to their social media channels. “Andria Bartishvili's MRI results have confirmed high quality damage to the ATFL (Anterior Talo-Fibular Ligament),” the statement read. “Andria will be able to complete several stages of treatment and complete rehabilitation before the end of the season.”
The attacking midfielder was due to link up with his new Arsenal teammates in the summer, with the possibility of making his debut during pre-season if selected. The injury represents a real blow to that timeline and will likely delay his first taste of life inside the first team set up.
High hopes from Georgia's youth set up
Bartishvili has made two appearances for Georgia's under-21s and had been tipped for a senior call up before this setback. Speaking exclusively to football.london, Georgian under-21s head coach Ramaz Svanadze spoke highly of the youngster's potential and mentality.
“I believe that he's got every chance and every opportunity to really show himself at the highest level, because that's exactly what he wants to do,” Svanadze said. “He wants to play at the very highest level for Arsenal's senior team. And obviously, a lot of players want that, but he's also got the talent and the mental profile, the mentality to do it if he continues on this path.”
Svanadze also pointed to the adjustment awaiting Bartishvili once he reaches English football. “The high intensity that characterises the English football, I mean, that's something that they will have to adapt to. That's going to be the biggest challenge for him,” he added.
Part of a wider youth push
Bartishvili is one of several young signings Arsenal have made with an eye on the future, joining Shamrock Rovers forward Victor Ozhianvuna and Independiente's Ecuadorian twins Holger and Edwin Quintero in the club's growing collection of teenage talent.
Asked in mid-September about the strategy behind recruiting such young players, Mikel Arteta described it as a collective club effort. “We know that if we want to constantly maintain this level and have the pathway already in house, which is the best way, obviously, to bring players from the academy or from the youth teams to us, they need to be one of the best in the world at recruiting,” he said. “Recruiting in the country, recruiting abroad, the best talent that we possibly can to give us the best chance to sustain that level.”
Bartishvili's rehabilitation will now be the priority, with Arsenal hopeful he can return to full fitness in time to begin life in England as planned.
