Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that he’s afraid that midfielder David Luiz could have performed his final recreation this season after he limped off with a hamstring harm in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United.
After lacking the final 4 video games with a knee harm, Luiz was introduced again to the beginning line-up for Sunday’s match, however he succeeded simply 53 minutes earlier than collapsing to the grass in ache, after clearly injuring his hamstring.
Luiz has simply returned from a knee downside Pool / Getty Photos
When the Premier League season ends on Could 23 and the Europa League ultimate, which Arsenal might not attain, on Could 26, there just isn’t a lot time for Luiz to return to full health.
“We have no idea,” Arteta stated (through the membership’s official web site) when requested if Luiz’s season was over. “He felt one thing within the hoarding, in order that’s not excellent news. He is made such a shift to be again with the staff in the previous few weeks after knee surgical procedure. It is actually a disgrace.”
It is kind of potential that Luiz could have performed his final match in an Arsenal shirt utterly. His contract expires this summer season and he just isn’t anticipated to interrupt new phrases, so any seasonal harm would additionally carry his time with the Gunners to a sudden finish.
Luiz could have performed his final recreation for Arsenal | Stu Forster / Getty Photos
Fortuitously for Arteta, it was not all doom and gloom when striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took a giant step ahead in his comeback from malaria.
Aubameyang had missed the final three league video games and had simply 5 minutes in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Villarreal, however he managed 78 minutes towards Newcastle and put in each a purpose and an help.
“We thought he wouldn’t make it,” Arteta admitted. “On Thursday and the day earlier than, he struggled and he may solely play ten or quarter-hour, however the following day he began to really feel higher.
Aubameyang impressed on his return from malaria Pool / Getty Photos
“It is good to see that he was properly right now, he carried out properly and in addition scored a purpose. It is actually optimistic.”
“[It was the perfect preparation for Thursday] as a result of we had a robust and really convincing efficiency. We scored two targets, we saved clear targets, gained the factors and had some actually robust particular person performances as properly. The one draw back is the one with David as a result of we know the way essential he’s to us. I believe we misplaced him right now. “
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