Arsenal fans dey hold their breath as injury wahala don hit the club hard during international break. The latest blow na Noni Madueke wey pick knee injury while playing for England against Uruguay last Friday. The winger wey cost Arsenal plenty money last summer don become doubt for important matches ahead.
Madueke start England game well well, but by 38th minute, everything scatter. Uruguay defender Rodrigo Aguirre tackle am, and the boy just fall ground. He try stand up, but leg no gree am. He hobble go touchline where West Ham‘s Jarrod Bowen replace am. After match, people see am wear knee brace and dey walk with serious pain face.
England coach Thomas Tuchel talk say he dey “worried” about the injury. But later, he give small hope say Madueke go miss “some days” only. The problem be say those “some days” include FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton this Saturday and Champions League match against Sporting CP next Tuesday.
But Madueke no be the only Arsenal player wey dey suffer. The list long well well. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both return to London Colney for “medical assessment” after England duty. Tuchel explain say both players “desperately wanted to play” but risk too high. “If it had been maybe the last game of the season, we would have kept them,” the German coach yarn.
Other players wey withdraw from their national teams include Martin Zubimendi from Spain squad, Piero Hincapie from Ecuador, Gabriel Magalhaes from Brazil, William Saliba from France, Eberechi Eze from England, Leandro Trossard from Belgium, and Jurrien Timber from Netherlands. Captain Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino already dey injured before break start.
Arsenal medical team go work overtime this week. The club dey face crucial period wey fit define their season. After Southampton FA Cup match, they go travel Lisbon face Sporting CP for Champions League quarter-final first leg. Then Premier League match against Bournemouth before Sporting return leg at Emirates Stadium. And after all these, Manchester City dey wait for April 19.
Mikel Arteta face serious test of his squad depth. Arsenal currently lead Premier League with nine points advantage over Manchester City, though City get one game wey them never play. The title race still dey hot, but with so many injuries, everything fit change quick quick.
Some fans dey ask why so many Arsenal players get injured during international break. Others dey blame fixture congestion. But the truth be say football at top level these days dey demand plenty from players’ bodies. International matches plus club commitments fit wear person down.
For Madueke case specifically, reports dey suggest say injury no too serious. The Athletic write say na minor issue. But even minor knee problems fit take one to two weeks to heal properly. And for winger wey depend on speed and agility, any knee wahala fit affect performance.
Arsenal supporters go watch team news with keen eye this weekend. If Madueke, Saka, and Rice no fit play against Southampton, Arteta go need find solutions from bench. Young players like Ethan Nwaneri or Reuell Walters fit get chance to shine.
The coming weeks go show if Arsenal squad get depth to challenge for multiple trophies. Last season, injury problems contribute to their title challenge collapse. This season, they try avoid same mistake by signing more players. But now, the test dey here.
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