Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss at least two of Arsenal’s next matches after suffering a calf strain.
The 31-year-old joined fellow African, Thomas Partey of the Ghana Black Stars, who limped off in the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Swiss international Granit Xhaka and Brazil’s Gabriel Magalhaes who are serving red cards, on the sidelines.
Aubameyang missed Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Everton in the Premier League and is set to be ruled out of Tuesday’s League Cup tie against Manchester City, as well as Premier League games against Chelsea on Boxing Day and Brighton & Hove Albion three days later.
“We want him back as quickly as possible but he has a small strain,” Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta said.
“We need a few days, I don’t know if it’s a week or two weeks. It will depend on how the injury evolves.”
Saturday’s result meant Arsenal have lost five of their last seven league games and lie in 15th place with 14 points, four points clear of the relegation zone.
It is their worst start to a season since 1974-75, raising the pressure on Spaniard Arteta, who took charge of the club in December last year.
“There is no question, the results are not good enough and not acceptable for the standards of this club, and this is the challenge and the fight that we are against,” Arteta said.
“It’s a really complicated situation, but I am very encouraged from what I see from the players to continue doing what we are trying to do.”