Arteta confirms Arsenal star Madueke suffered an injury after taking the winger off at half-time vs City

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed Noni Madueke picked up an injury early on in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners will be hoping to have ‘unbelievable’ Madueke back soon. He has enjoyed a fine start to life in North London.

Arteta took the Arsenal winger off at half-time, a move that raised eyebrows in the football community, but the Spanish tactician explained the puzzling decision.

Arteta said (via the Evening Standard): “He had an issue very early in the match, and he wasn’t well enough to continue.”

Madueke was electric in the opening 45 for Arsenal against Pep Guardiola’s side. He is always a threat on the flanks and carries the ball into the opposition box well.

Arsenal will be hoping to have him back soon. The North Londoners have a couple of crucial games coming up and need all hands on deck.

The Gunners face Newcastle United next weekend before a Champions League clash with Olympiacos.

After that, Arsenal have three London derbies in a row and a titillating tie with Atletico Madrid in between. Hopefully, Madueke can shake off this injury early enough.

Arteta will be rueing the chance missed to close the budding gap with Liverpool at the summit of the table.

Manchester City were there for the taking in the first half, but the Gunners did not capitalise, and the manager has been receiving criticism for their safety-first approach.

The Gunners are already five points behind Liverpool after five games, and that gap could continue to widen if the North Londoners do not find another gear soon.

After finishing second for three consecutive seasons, Arsenal must be eager to be crowned champions finally. It has been 21 years, and fans are getting impatient.

Arteta has been backed in the transfer market, and the burden is on him to deliver major silverware this season.