Arsenal's Nwaneri set for 'a few weeks' on sidelines

Mikel Arteta confirmed Arsenal will be without teenager Ethan Nwaneri "for a few weeks" after he suffered a muscle injury against Brighton.

The 17-year-old scored the Gunners' opener in their 1-1 draw on Saturday but was taken off at half-time due to the issue.

Nwaneri's 16th-minute strike saw him become just the sixth player to score more than one Premier League goal before turning 18 years old (two) after Wayne Rooney (seven), Michael Owen (five), Danny Cadamarteri (three), James Milner (three) and Federico Macheda (two).

Overall, he has made 18 appearances for the Arsenal first-team this season, starting six of those, including the last two in a row, scoring five goals in all competitions.

However, he will play no part in their upcoming EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle United on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, he [Nwaneri] has picked up an injury and is going to be out for a few weeks," Arteta said in a press conference. "It's a muscular injury."

6+1 - Ethan Nwaneri (2 goals) became just the sixth player to score more than one Premier League goal before turning 18 years old after Wayne Rooney (7), Michael Owen (5), Danny Cadamarteri (3), James Milner (3) and Federico Macheda (2), and the first to do so for Arsenal.… pic.twitter.com/ecuruNKeeu

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 4, 2025

Kai Havertz, meanwhile, could be back in contention on Tuesday after missing Arsenal's last two games through illness.

The German has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, including two in the EFL Cup, and could be key if he does return as Arsenal look to score 3+ goals in four consecutive games in the competition for the first time.

"I hope so," Arteta said of Havertz's availability. "But I don't want to say yes because last time I said he would be fit, and he wasn't fit."

Arsenal will come up against the in-form Alexander Isak, who scored Newcastle's winner against them in the Premier League earlier this season.

The Swede has netted in seven consecutive Premier League matches and Arteta acknowledged they would have to stop him to be successful.

"Obviously, he's a top player, he's in top form," he added.

"He is scoring a lot of goals. Trying to minimise the strength of the opposition."