Arsenal dealt big blow as star man set to be sidelined for 2 months after picking up injury against Manchester City: Reports

Arsenal have reportedly received a big blow as new boy Noni Madueke is set to be sidelined for two months after his team's recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

Madueke, 23, was withdrawn at the half-time break during the Gunners' stalemate against Pep Guardiola's side on Sunday (September 21). He was replaced by star winger Bukayo Saka, who helped his team salvage a point at Emirates Stadium in the end.

Now, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Madueke is set to be out of action for around two months after suffering a knee injury earlier on Sunday. He is believed to have fortunately avoided damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Madueke, who helped Chelsea win two trophies past season, joined Mikel Arteta's club in a potential £52 million deal earlier this summer. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur youth player has started five of his six matches across all competitions for Arsenal so far.

With Madueke injured and Saka still not fully match fit, Arteta could choose to hand teenager Max Dowman a start in the Gunners' next game. The north London outfit will next travel to EFL League One team Port Vale for their EFL Cup third round tie on Wednesday (September 24).

Arsenal face selection issue, says former star

Earlier this Sunday, Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench and bagged a stoppage time goal in his team's 1-1 home league draw against Manchester City.

Opining on Martinelli's recent performance and squad role, former Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor recently told the Premier League Productions (h/t Metro):

"That's where man management becomes very important because you have to be talking to all these players to keep them happy all the time even knowing that they're on the bench. When I was on the bench at Arsenal, I knew that I had Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie in front of me, but it was not easy because every weekend I'm in [Arsene Wenger's] office."

Adebayor, who played for the north London club from 2006 to 2009, continued:

"This is when you need a manager that can calm the situation down. We have never seen Arteta go through those moments, and I think this is the right year for him to go through this. Martinelli, I think in a couple of weeks we will lose him because if he stays on the bench after this game, the head will start going, then the body will follow, then he will spoil the whole training ground."

Martinelli, 24, has registered two goals and an assist in five total outings this term.

Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee