Noni Madueke loukkaantui polvensa ja Arsenal menettää uuden hankintansa kahdeksi kuukaudeksi ratkaisevalla kaudella

It was supposed to be the game where Arsenal sent a message. A packed stadium, Manchester City on the other side, and all eyes on Mikel Arteta’s side to see if they could keep stride with the champions. Instead, the night ended with mixed emotions: a gritty 1–1 draw, yes, but also a worrying setback.

Just as Arsenal began to believe new signing Noni Madueke was settling in, the 23-year-old winger limped off at halftime with a knee injury. Tests the following day confirmed the bad news: he’ll be out for about two months, according to The Athletic.

And yet, there’s a silver lining here. Initial fears of an ACL tear were put to rest — no surgery required, no year-long absence. Still, what lies ahead is weeks of rehab and frustration as Madueke watches from the sidelines until at least the end of November.

A promising start hit by misfortune

It’s especially cruel timing. Madueke only arrived at the Emirates this summer, a €56 million transfer from bitter rivals Chelsea. Arteta hasn’t wasted time embedding him, handing the winger four league starts already. His pace, directness, and eye for goal seemed poised to give Arsenal’s attack a new edge.

But Sunday against City turned sour. After a lively first half, Madueke never reappeared after the break. In his place stepped Bukayo Saka — a substitution that steadied the team but stripped Arsenal of one of their new attacking weapons.

Injuries piling up for Arteta

Madueke now joins a frustratingly long injury list. Arsenal have already been forced to cope without crucial players this season:

• Martin Ødegaard is nursing a shoulder issue.
• Kai Havertz underwent knee surgery in August.
• And now Madueke is added to the tally.

Luckily, Arsenal aren’t short of wingers. Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard can all play wide, giving Arteta options. But losing Madueke is still a blow — he brings a unique, fearless energy that’s difficult to replicate, especially in a congested spell of fixtures.

Why this matters right now

The next two months could well define Arsenal’s season. Between October and November, the team faces a barrage of Premier League clashes, Champions League group-stage battles, and League Cup ties. Madueke’s absence could mean he misses them all.

That puts extra pressure on Saka and Martinelli to carry the load. Arteta may also need to dip deeper into his squad, giving chances to youngsters or fringe players earlier than expected. And, depending on how quickly Havertz and Ødegaard return, Arsenal may need to consider making moves when the January transfer window opens.

A personal setback for Madueke

For the player himself, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Just weeks into his Arsenal career, he was showing sparks of why the club fought so hard to bring him in. Two months lost now means his adaptation slows, and he’ll have to fight to recapture momentum later in the season. For a 23-year-old trying to make his breakthrough at one of England’s biggest clubs, the timing couldn’t be worse.

The bottom line

• Madueke picked up a knee injury against Man City.
• He’ll miss about two months, but escaped a serious ACL issue.
• Arsenal’s injury list grows, with Ødegaard and Havertz already sidelined.
• A crucial run of games could test Arteta’s squad depth.

For Arsenal fans, relief comes in knowing this isn’t season-ending. But frustration lingers. The team needs every weapon it can muster if it hopes to compete with City and chase European glory.

Madueke’s return will eventually feel like a new signing all over again — but the waiting game begins now.

👉 The question is: if another attacker goes down, will Arsenal gamble on reinforcements in the January window?