The injury to Mikel Arteta that will likely rule the Spanish midfielder out of the rest of the Premier League campaign is a severe blow to the Gunners, according to the London Evening Standard.
Arteta had to be withdrawn early in the defeat to Wigan Athletic on Monday evening and was seen on crutches and wearing a protective boot after the match, which finished 2-1 to the relegation threatened side.
The Evening Standard note that of the five Arsenal matches Arteta has missed through injury, Arsene Wenger’s side have fallen to defeat in four and drawn the fifth.
The former Everton midfielder moved to the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the summer transfer window, sealing a late switch from Merseyside for around £10m.
Arteta originally joined Everton on loan in January 2005, making the move to Goodison Park permanent that summer for a fee in the region of £2.5m, going on to captain the Toffees on a number of occasions.
