Big blow for Arsenal as £48.5m star suffers injury on Int'l duty
Premier League leaders Arsenal have been handed a potential setback after Noni Madueke sustained an injury during England’s 1-1 international friendly draw against Uruguay on Friday.
Arsenal fullback Ben White netted the decisive goal nine minutes from time after coming on in the second half. Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde equalised for Uruguay deep into additional time from the penalty spot.
Madueke, who completed a summer switch from Chelsea to the Gunners for an initial £48.5 million, was the only Arsenal player named in England’s starting line-up. The winger’s outing was cut short in the first half after he appeared to suffer a concussion-related issue.
Madueke was forced off in the 38th minute, with Jarrod Bowen introduced as his replacement.
The incident occurred moments earlier when Madueke collided with Rodrigo Aguirre while driving into the penalty area from the right flank. Despite appeals from England players for a foul, the referee allowed play to continue.
Madueke initially received extensive treatment on the pitch and attempted to continue, but was unable to shake off the effects of the collision.
He went down again shortly after and signalled for a substitution, leaving the field while holding his face before heading straight down the tunnel.
The development is a concern for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is already dealing with a growing list of injury absentees.
Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, and Martin Odegaard have all withdrawn from international duty due to injuries.
Madueke had been looking to strengthen his case for a place in England’s squad ahead of the World Cup in the United States, following a string of impressive performances at club level.
The 24-year-old has contributed seven goals and four assists in 31 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal this season.
His potential absence would come as a significant blow for the north London side, who remain in contention on multiple fronts, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup.
Arsenal will now await further medical assessment, with initial signs offering a degree of optimism as Madueke was able to walk off the pitch unassisted, despite the concerning nature of the collision.
Stats from Sofascore
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