Arsenal are set to be without Mohamed Elneny for months, while fellow midfielder Thomas Partey is facing weeks on the sidelines.
Partey aggravated his thigh during training recently, while Elneny suffered a hamstring injury during last weekend’s 2-1 win over Fulham.
Arsenal are still assessing the pair, but a picture of how long they will both be out is becoming clearer.
“With Mo probably it is a little bit easier and we are talking months,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “With Thomas, hopefully we are talking weeks or even shorter than that, I hope.”
Since joining Arsenal in 2020, Partey has been hit by numerous injuries and struggled to stay fully fit.
His latest thigh issue is similar to the one that ruled him out for the final two months of last season and Arteta admits it is frustrating for everyone involved.
“We have tried to manage him,” said Arteta. “A lot has happened since he joined, obviously, and we are trying the best possible way to find the reasons why that happens.
“But unfortunately the body and the mind are too difficult sometimes to understand and put a finger on a single thing to try to prevent something happening.
“The attitude of the player is there with his willingness. He is really disappointed again obviously as you can imagine and the team needs him. So, we need him back.”
