Reiss Nelson was forced off in Arsenal's friendly against Juventus as Mikel Arteta's injury list adds up.
The winger started on Saturday evening as the Gunners prepare for the return of domestic football. They welcomed the Italian giants to Emirates Stadium, losing 2-0, but fielded a strong starting XI which included Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Fabio Vieira and Martin Odegaard as the forward players.
Nelson had to be replaced by Marquinhos midway through the first-half, however, after going down clutching his hamstring. The physio was quick to the scene but couldn't rescue the academy graduate's night. Fooball.london reported that the Arsenal star looked devastated as he left the pitch.
The 23-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game this term but was pushing for more involvement ahead of the hectic festive period. Arsenal boss Arteta has largely stuck to a regular starting XI throughout the season but his options and the depth of his squad are being tested.
Gabriel Jesus has been a key figure following his summer switch from Manchester City. The striker has started every league game but picked up any injury whilst playing for Brazil at the World Cup and underwent surgery which will keep him out for several months.
Nketiah could be called upon to play in a central role, with the injury to Nelson placing more stress on Arteta's options. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have also played every league game this term as the Gunners face questions about burnout heading into the second half of the season.
The north Londoners have exceeded all expectations to sit top by five points having won 12 of their 14 league games. However, they will need to show a pragmatic side after suffering several injuries, albeit there is no diagnosis of Nelson's issue yet.
The winger has spent his entire career in north London, bar several loan spells away, and is out of contract at the end of the season but is hoping to earn an extension. "I’ve been here since I was eight and Arsenal is all I know. I’m only a couple of minutes from the stadium, all my family is there. So, of course I’d love to stay," he said earlier this season.
Arteta is equally hopeful that Nelson's performances can be rewarded by a new deal. He said of the 23-year-old: "That is why he is here, because we want to have that opportunity with him. He was willing to take that opportunity and, again, it’s down to him to show it now on the pitch. Out there [in training], he is showing it every day, how he is working, a lot of things that he has changed and improved in many things that in our opinion could have been better."
