Advertisement

Leandro Trossard gives Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta injury nightmare after international withdrawal

Leandro Trossard has suffered an injury blow
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Arsenal have been dealt yet another injury blow after Leandro Trossard limped off during Belgium's Nations League tie against Israel on Sunday.

The Gunners, who are currently plagued with a number of issues in the treatment room, would have wanted to go through the November international break without any fresh concerns.

However, it now appears that Trossard is set to join the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka as injury worries after he was substituted in the first-half while playing for Belgium against Israel.

READ MORE: Arsenal told Mikel Arteta will 'look elsewhere' unless two conditions are met

READ MORE: Saka and Odegaard start, Merino call, Calafiori returns - Dream Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest

The 29-year-old went down and was treated by the Belgium medical staff before appearing to limp off the pitch in the 37th minute at the Bozsik Arena. He was replaced by Johan Bakayoko.

It's unclear why Trossard was withdrawn but he was moving awkwardly and reluctant to join Belgium attacks before his substitution. The former Brighton forward, who has scored twice in 15 matches for Arsenal this season, also played 90 minutes as Belgium lost 1-0 to Italy on Thursday.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori and Kieran Tierney missed Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Chelsea last Sunday and their injury concerns have increased since. Ben White has undergone surgery for a knee issue, while Saka and Rice pulled out of international duty with England.

Mikel Arteta's side are next in action when they face Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Gunners have endured a difficult recent run, failing to win any of their last four Premier League matches but were unfortunate not to come out with all three points during last Sunday's draw with Chelsea.

Speaking after the draw at Stamford Bridge, Arteta said: "Disappointed with the result because I think we deserved more and at the same time very proud of the team, the way we played here against this opponent, in this stadium, they have battered every opponent here and obviously it wasn’t the case today.

"But after doing the most difficult thing, scoring the first goal, very disappointed with how we conceded the goal, nowhere near the standards, our defensive habits, how we allowed that and the moment you allow that space and time to any of their players with the quality they have you’re going to get punished, so that’s not bad luck."