BREAKING: Arsenal CONFIRMS their BEST PLAYER ruled out for the rest of the year, as injury crisis deepens

Arsenal could be without another big player, as sidelined stars begin piling up for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla
Arsenal are facing an injury crisis of worrying proportions, with one midfielder ruled out until the end of the year with injury.

The Gunners slumped to their first league defeat of the season away at Newcastle United at the weekend, following a drab League Cup exit at the hands of West Ham United the previous week. Mikel Arteta was without a number of his key players, however, with club Martin Odegaard the latest to be left out of the lineup.

The Norwegian joined Jurrien Timber, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey on the treatment table – and now reports have suggested that one of those currently afflicted could be out for longer than thought.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 04: Newcastle player Joelinton and Arsenal defender Gabriel look on as Anthony Gordon fires home past David Raya for the Newcastle winning goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 04, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Arsenal lost to Newcastle with a significantly weaker team (Image credit: Getty Images)
The Mirror claims that Ghanaian midfielder Partey is set to sit out the rest of 2023 through injury, as Arteta looks to reshape his midfield ahead of a critical period of the season.

With the games coming thick and fast, Arsenal have an imbalance of players their manager views as No.10s or No.6s with no natural No.8 to choose from. Declan Rice is the only obvious pick – though Arteta is thought to view him as the long-term No.6.

VIDEO: How Arsenal FINALLY Beat Manchester City At Their Own Game

Jorginho has been playing that deeper role recently with Rice ahead alongside either Odegaard or Havertz. Fabio Vieira and Smith Rowe can both play in midfield, while Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are both options – though both are still teenagers.

Partey, Odegaard and Rice started the Community Shield together against Manchester City but have featured for mere minutes in midfield together in the league so far, given that Partey was deployed at full-back at the start of the season before his injury issues resurfaced.

Arsenal star Thomas Partey during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on May 28, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Thomas Partey has spent much of the season injured (Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The Mirror have previously referred to Partey as “increasingly dissatisfied” with his playing time, suggesting the former Atletico Madrid man could be moved on in the next couple of transfer windows.

He joined Arsenal in 2020 for £45 million but has completed just 104 appearances in his three-and-a-half seasons in north London.

More Arsenal stories
Arsenal U18s’ trip to Brighton was postponed on Saturday – after the team bus drove to the wrong ground.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are being linked with a big move for a £52m-rated talent.

And ‘the new Erling Haaland’ is also said to be on the North London club’s radar.

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Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn’t receive a winners’ medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson’s season at Barcelona to Robinho’s career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.

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Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe during a training session at London Colney on October 20, 2023 in St Albans, England.
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