By Chalien Dantes

Arsenal are bracing for a spell without Noni Madueke after the winger picked up a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

Early assessments suggest he could be sidelined for six to eight weeks, though it’s not thought to be an ACL issue.

Madueke, who joined from Chelsea this summer, was forced off at half-time during the clash and has since undergone scans to determine the extent of the damage. While the swelling initially made it tricky to get a clear diagnosis, the current outlook rules him out until at least early November.

It’s a frustrating setback for both Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and England manager Thomas Tuchel, especially given Madueke’s bright start to the season. The 23-year-old will now miss several important games.

On the international front, Madueke is expected to sit out England’s upcoming matches against Wales and Latvia. His recovery timeline also casts doubt over his availability for November’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

If all goes well, the winger could make his return in the high-stakes north London derby against Tottenham on November 23.

Until then, Arsenal will need to reshuffle their attacking plans without one of their most exciting summer signings.