San Francisco Frontiers - Wounded Arsenal hit by Nwaneri injury blow

Nwaneri suffered the injury in Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday and had to be taken off at half-time.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta confirmed the teenage forward, who had scored his side's first half goal against Brighton, faces an extended spell on the sidelines.

The 17-year-old has scored five times in 18 appearances in all competitions this term after emerging from the Arsenal youth academy.

With England forward Bukayo Saka expected to be out until at least March following surgery on a hamstring injury, Nwaneri's absence is another setback for Arteta ahead of a hectic spell of nine games in 30 days.

Raheem Sterling has missed the last five matches with a knee injury, while Kai Havertz was absent from the Brighton match through illness.

Ill captain Martin Odegaard was only fit enough for a second half cameo against Brighton, while defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also sidelined.

"Unfortunately Ethan has picked up a muscular injury, he will be out for a few weeks," Arteta told reporters on Monday.

"He has earned the right to step up and play for us. I'm gutted for him because it's going to stop that a little bit."

Arsenal are back in action on Tuesday when Newcastle visit the Emirates Stadium for the League Cup semi-final first leg.

Arteta hopes Germany striker Havertz can return to bolster his attacking options, while Sterling will be back "hopefully very soon".

"I hope so, but I don't want to say yes because last time I said he would be fit and he wasn't fit," Arteta said of Havertz.

- 'Still far to go' -

Asked if Arsenal would make a move in the January transfer window to replace their walking wounded, Arteta demurred, adding: "Whatever is in the market, we're very alert, but the priority is working with the players that we have at the moment.

"We have to sign players to really elevate and impact the team, otherwise just bringing in bodies doesn't help us."

Arteta's only trophy as Arsenal boss was the 2020 FA Cup in his maiden season with the north London club.

Trailing six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, Arsenal may have to focus on the cups to end Arteta's trophy drought.

Winning the League Cup would be a boost to Arsenal after they finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League for the last two seasons.

"We are in all the competitions. Obviously, in the league for a lot of circumstances, we are not where we want to be which is top, I understand that," said Arteta.

"These are challenges, these are situations that we are facing, and we are trying to do the very best to overcome them and still be a really good team."

S.Hall--SFF