Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta provides an update on the fitness of Noni Madueke, who was taken off at half time against Manchester City on Sunday.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that winger Noni Madueke was forced off at half time due to an injury against Manchester City.
The Gunners dropped points for a second time in the Premier League on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Pep Guardiola’s City at the Emirates on Sunday.
While a point against the Citizens is in isolation a positive result, they now trail first-placed Liverpool by five points after five matchweeks.
Arteta was criticised for his decision to bring off winger Madueke at the half-time interval, especially as he has been one of the team’s standout performers.
Speaking to reporters in the aftermath of the draw, the Gunners boss said that the forward’s substitution was due to injury, saying: “No [it was not tactical], I think he had an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue [beyond the first half].”
Arsenal will play Port Vale in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, but the potential absence of Madueke could be decisive when the Londoners play Newcastle United on Sunday.
Arsenal’s injury problems: How Arteta’s season has been disrupted
Bukayo Saka was brought on in Madueke’s place, and the return of the winger will be a welcome boost to the head coach.
The forward missed months of action last season due to a hamstring injury, and he has already sat out three of Arsenal’s first six matches of 2025-26.
Captain Martin Odegaard has struggled with injury for much of the 2025-26 season, and he was absent on Sunday, while centre-back William Saliba made his first start for the club since he was brought off after four minutes against Liverpool on August 31.
It is difficult to expect Arsenal to be at their absolute best considering key players have been unavailable, and perhaps it is unfair to judge the club too harshly at this early stage of the campaign.
Is Arsenal’s squad strong enough to cope without Madueke?
While Saka’s minutes will need to be managed in order to prevent him suffering a setback, he is arguably Arsenal’s best player, and they should be able to cope without Madueke.
Striker Kai Havertz is also injured, but after the Londoners bought Viktor Gyokeres in the summer, the German was not a first-team starter.
Saliba may have missed a period of the season, but Arsenal have a number of options in central defence, with the likes of Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White and Piero Hincapie all capable of playing as centre-backs.
Eze is versatile enough to be used in multiple positions in the forward line, and though the club have suffered numerous injuries, Arsenal do have enough players to get by.
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