Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed youngster Louie Copley’s injury does not look good.
Copley was a half-time substitute in Arsenal’s pre-season friendly loss to Real Betis on Wednesday night, replacing captain for the night Ben White and taking up an unfamiliar right-back position.
However, the midfielder’s involvement at the Aviva Stadium was short-lived. Within ten minutes of the second half, Copley got his studs caught in the turf and appeared to do some damage to his knee.
Copley received treatment from the Arsenal medical staff, and required assistance in being helped back to his feet as he was replaced by Theo Julienne before heading straight down the tunnel.
Arteta, speaking after the 3-1 loss, confirmed the 19-year-old is set to undergo a scan on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury, with the Arsenal boss hopeful of some positive news.
He said: “Well, probably we're going to have it tomorrow. It doesn't look good, the mechanism is not too positive, the symptoms that he already has either.
“So let's hope that tomorrow the news is better.”
Copley was one of seven Arsenal half-time substitutes against Real Betis, alongside Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli as the pair made their first appearances of the summer following an extended break due to the World Cup.
Like Copley, the Brazilian duo also did not finish the second half as they were withdrawn with a quarter of the game to go.
Their substitutions are not thought to be injury-related, rather pre-planned as they got 30 minutes in the tank - just like Kai Havertz, Piero Hincapie and Viktor Gyokeres did against Girona last weekend.
With the Gunners back in action against Borussia Dortmund this Sunday, it’s likely that Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli will each get a 45 minute run-out at the Emirates Stadium.
