Arsenal FC have suffered a huge injury blow, which could see their trophy campaign in the 2025/2026 season be heavily affected.
Arsenal have been dealt a setback with Noni Madueke expected to spend the next two months on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury in their clash against Manchester City, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
The England international, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea during the summer window, has quickly established himself as a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s side. With Bukayo Saka recovering from his own fitness issues, Madueke had stepped into the right-wing role, starting four consecutive matches and even filling in on the left against Leeds United.
However, during the meeting with City, the 23-year-old was seen limping off towards the tunnel at half-time and did not return for the second period, with Saka coming on in his place. Initial concerns over the severity of the injury have since eased, as Madueke avoided ACL damage, but the winger will still be unavailable until at least late November.
The timing is particularly damaging for Arsenal. Madueke is now set to miss several high-profile fixtures, including a reunion with his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as well as crucial Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. While Saka’s return offers Arteta a much-needed boost, losing Madueke disrupts the momentum he had built since his arrival at the Emirates.
Beyond the immediate blow, this injury could have a wider impact on Arsenal’s trophy ambitions in the 2025/2026 season. With the Gunners competing on multiple fronts, most notably in the Premier League and Champions League, the absence of Madueke reduces attacking depth and limits Arteta’s ability to rotate effectively. His directness, versatility, and goal threat have already proven vital, and without him, Arsenal risk being overly reliant on Saka and Gabriel Martinelli during a congested period.