Arsenal Skipper Suffers Fresh Injury Setback + Debuchy and Welbeck Updates

Arsenal have been dealt yet another injury blow with Mikel Arteta facing several more weeks on the sidelines after suffering a setback, according to the Guardian.

Arteta has been on the sidelines since picking up a calf injury during our 2-0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates on November 26th.

It was the third time the Spaniard had suffered a calf strain this season alone and Arsene Wenger initially expected him to be out for between three and four weeks.

The 32-year-old then picked up a related ankle injury and was ruled out until the New Year but here we are, over two weeks into January, and still no sign of the skipper.

It appears Arteta has suffered another set-back as the Guardian are reporting that the midfielder is struggling to overcome both calf and ankle injuries and is expected to remain on the sidelines for several weeks.

The newspaper suggests that at this stage, it’s impossible to determine an exact comeback date, but Arsene has now come to terms with the fact he’ll be without his captain for the foreseeable future.

It’s a huge blow as Arteta has been sorely missed over the past two months and his prolonged absence only heightens our need to bring in a top class holding midfielder before the transfer window closes.

The Guardian also had a worrying update on Mathieu Debuchy as they claim that having seen a number of specialists this week, it’s looking increasingly likely that the full-back will need surgery on his dislocated shoulder – which will rule him out for three months.

Debuchy suffered the injury against Stoke last weekend and Arsenal staff had hoped he wouldn’t need to go under the knife and could be back in around six weeks. However, it appears we’ll need to operate which means the Frenchman will miss most of the remainder of the season.

It’s a sickening blow as it’s the second serious injury Debuchy has suffered this season and now we’ll have to make-do without our first choice right-back, with Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers set to battle it out for a first team slot over the next three months.

However, there is some positive news on the injury-front with Danny Welbeck due back from a thigh injury. The striker could be in contention to face Manchester City on Sunday but if he fails a late fitness test, then he’ll make his return against Brighton in the FA Cup next weekend.