Noni Madueke: Arsenal forward set to be sidelined with knee injury in latest setback for Mikel Arteta's forward line
Noni Madueke suffered the injury in the draw with Man City last weekend; the winger joins Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz on the sidelines as Arsenal's injury count rivals the number of goals their forwards have scored since March
Tuesday 23 September 2025 18:09, UK
Mikel Arteta has said Noni Madueke is likely to be sidelined for a "few weeks" despite reports the winger faces two months out with a knee injury.
The England winger came off at half-time of the 1-1 draw with Manchester City and was replaced by Bukayo Saka - who had only just returned from his own hamstring injury.
"It looks like he will be out for a few weeks," said Arteta about Madueke's blow. "It looks like we will have to scan him again next week. He felt something in the beginning of the match. At half-time it was too sore."
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Asked if Madueke will be out for weeks rather than months, Arteta said: "We hope so. We have to scan him again, it doesn't look too bad.
"He was gutted, disappointed because he was in such a good state. He was getting consistency and flow and was looking like a big threat."
Madueke's setback means Arsenal have picked up at least one injury in every league game so far this season.
The loss of Madueke also brings the total number of injuries suffered by Arsenal forwards in the last nine months to 12.
Arsenal's injury setbacks during that time include:
- Bukayo Saka tearing his hamstring at Crystal Palace in late December before then injuring his other hamstring in the second game of this season.
- Losing Gabriel Jesus to a long-term knee injury that means the Brazilian is likely to only play for two weeks in the whole of 2025.
- Two different serious injuries to Kai Havertz reducing his contribution to less than 45 minutes of Premier League football in the last six months, with the German also unlikely to return before November.
- A hamstring injury to Gabriel Martinelli that saw him sit out a month between February and March along with Saka, Havertz and Jesus.
The tally of 12 injuries in 2025 is equal to the number of goals that Arsenal's forwards have scored since March.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta were widely criticised for their perceived caution this weekend in the draw against Manchester City.
But the Palace game is also significant for marking the last occasion when Arteta had his full complement of forwards available for selection.
Arteta shoehorned all of them into the starting XI by playing Havertz in midfield ahead of the benched Declan Rice. Arsenal won the game 5-1 with Havertz, Jesus and Martinelli all on the scoresheet.
When will Havertz and Odegaard return?
Madueke's setback will continue the stressful load Arsenal's forward players will be facing.
However, it could be lessened by the return of Odegaard - who is set to return for Arsenal's next Premier League game on Sunday, an away trip to Newcastle live on Sky Sports.
The Arsenal captain injured the same shoulder twice in consecutive home games, but Arteta said about his condition: "No surgery.
"He's still really fine. He's already been training. It will be a matter of days."
However, Havertz may be out for a longer period of time. "With Kai we know it will be months," said Arteta.
"I don't know if it could be weeks because it's Kai. He's a different specimen. Hopefully he will be back and back for the long term. So far, he's progressing really well."
Meanwhile, deadline day signing Piero Hincapie is struggling with a groin injury, but Arteta said the Colombian defender's situation is short term.
"He picked up a little groin injury," said Arteta. "We have to assess him in the next few days on how he goes. There's been a change of load, he hasn't really had a pre-season.
"We have to look in the next week on how he is. I think that will be a short-term injury."
Arsenal's upcoming fixtures
September 24: Port Vale (A), Carabao Cup third round, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 8pm
September 28: Newcastle (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
October 1: Olympiakos (H), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
October 4: West Ham (H), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
October 18: Fulham (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm
October 21: Atletico Madrid (H), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
October 26: Crystal Palace (H), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2pm
November 1: Burnley (A), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
November 4: Slavia Prague (A), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
November 8: Sunderland (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm
November 23: Tottenham (H), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
November 26: Bayern Munich (H), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
November 30: Chelsea (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
