Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze is expected to miss several weeks with a calf injury, Sky Sports News reports.
Eze was injured in last week’s Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen and missed the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
The attacking midfielder, who has been withdrawn from the England squad, will undergo further tests and there are hopes he could return sooner than the reported four to six weeks.
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How much impact will Manchester City’s victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final have on the Premier League title race?
The Premier League leaders are still chasing the treble, continuing to compete in the Champions League and FA Cup.
If the reported timeline is correct, Eze will miss five crucial games in all three competitions, including the trip to league title rivals Man City, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Analysis: Eze was sent off at the moment of kick-on
Sam Blitz of Sky Sports:
The two-week international break has softened the blow of Eze’s injury a bit for Arsenal, but it’s still a nasty punch, even if he’s not completely fresh for Arsenal’s crucial Premier League game against Manchester City.
The main reason for the frustration is that this blow came just as Eze was starting to improve. His stunning goal against Bayer Leverkusen showed that the Gunners No. 10 was finally starting to settle into this Arsenal team, and it was his best moment outside of the North London derby.
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Paul Merson reacts to Eberechi Eze’s sensational opening match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen
Mikel Arteta also said after the game: “He’s building better chemistry and understanding with all of his (team-mates). And we’re starting to understand him better.” However, little did Arsenal know that Eze was also injured in that match.
Eze is currently sidelined for what would otherwise be a stellar season. It’s often quipped that Eze was at his best in the spring, and his numbers back that up.
Last season, during the international break since March, he scored six goals and provided two assists in eight Premier League games, as well as scoring in the FA Cup quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The previous season, he finished the season with five goals and two assists in his final six Premier League games. He will spend this term on the treatment table.
How Arsenal choose to replace him is simple but difficult. There is now pressure on Martin Odegaard to quickly get back in shape, as well as his fitness. He is expected to return for the FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.
Kai Havertz is also an option at number 10, but his performance in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final shows he is still a little rusty after missing early good chances and subsequently losing nine of 10 games.
And of course, there’s also Max Dauman as an option for backing up creative influence…
Arsenal’s busy schedule after international break
April 4: Southampton (A), FA Cup quarter-final, 8pm kick-off
April 7: Sporting CP (A), Champions League quarter-final first leg, 8pm kick-off
April 11: Bournemouth (H), Premier League, 12:30pm kick-off
April 15: Sporting CP (H), Champions League quarter-final second leg, 8pm kick-off
April 19: Man City (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, 4.30pm kick-off
