Arsenal’s early season optimism has been tempered by yet another injury concern, with summer signing Noni Madueke facing an anxious wait on the results of a knee scan. The winger, who joined from Chelsea for £48.5 million in July, was forced off during the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday, raising fears that Mikel Arteta’s attacking depth could once again be stretched thin.
The 22-year-old pulled up midway through the first half, visibly uncomfortable, and was replaced at the interval by Bukayo Saka, who himself was only making his return from a month-long hamstring lay-off. Madueke is due to undergo tests on Monday, and while the club hopes the damage will not be significant, the incident has highlighted Arsenal’s recurring problem with injuries to key players.
Arteta confirmed after the game that the winger had “an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue,” though he stopped short of speculating on the severity. Sources close to the club remain cautiously optimistic that the setback will not sideline Madueke for an extended spell. Still, the sight of another attacker limping off will have been alarming for the Emirates faithful.
Arsenal’s injury list has grown concerningly long for this stage of the season. Kai Havertz is already absent with a knee problem, captain Martin Ødegaard missed the City clash due to a shoulder injury, and Saka only just returned from his own spell on the sidelines. The situation is a stark reminder of last season, when injuries in the run-in derailed Arsenal’s push for silverware and exposed a lack of depth in key positions.
This time around, the club acted in the summer transfer market to bolster its attacking options, and Madueke was a marquee signing intended to provide cover and competition on the flanks. His start to life in north London has been impressive: he quickly adapted to Arteta’s high-intensity system, providing width and creativity on the right wing during Saka’s absence. His form carried over into international duty, where he scored for England in their 5-0 demolition of Serbia earlier this month.
Sunday’s encounter with City was meant to be another chance for him to showcase his growing influence. Instead, Arsenal’s coaching staff were left counting the cost of a bruising fixture that, while ending in a valuable point, underlined the fragility of the squad’s fitness.
For Arteta, the next few weeks may become a balancing act. Should Madueke’s injury prove minor, the Spaniard may choose to rotate carefully between him and Saka to avoid recurrence. However, if the news is less positive, Arsenal will again be heavily reliant on their talismanic academy graduate, whose workload has been a persistent concern.
The broader picture is equally pressing. Arsenal are juggling Premier League commitments with the Champions League, and the fixture list ahead is unforgiving. Matches against Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Bayern Munich loom large, and Arteta knows his side can ill afford to be without multiple creative outlets.
Injuries, of course, are part of any campaign, but the timing of Arsenal’s setbacks has felt especially cruel. Ødegaard’s absence removes the side’s primary playmaker, Havertz’s injury denies them an aerial and physical presence in attack, and now Madueke’s availability is uncertain. It leaves Arteta with tactical headaches and fewer options off the bench — precisely the scenario the club sought to avoid when investing heavily in the summer.
Yet there is still room for optimism. Madueke’s early withdrawal on Sunday may have been precautionary rather than catastrophic. Arsenal’s medical team will provide a clearer picture following scans, and the winger’s youthful resilience could speed up recovery. If so, the episode may serve more as a scare than a serious disruption.
For now, Arsenal supporters must wait anxiously for confirmation. The hope is that Madueke, who has already begun to endear himself to fans with his direct play and end product, will be back in action swiftly. But the episode has underlined an uncomfortable truth: if Arsenal are to mount a serious challenge on multiple fronts this season, keeping their star players fit will be just as crucial as their form on the pitch.
