Zinchenko sudden Arsenal absence: Gunners confirm worrying injury

Oleksandr Zinchenko will undergo a scan on New Year's Day to determine the extent of his calf injury. Arsenal missed him.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, the 27-year-old Ukraine international, will be undergoing a scan on his calf on New Year's Day to determine the severity of his injury. This comes after he missed Arsenal's 2-1 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage on New Year's Eve due to the problem. Initially described as a "slight calf issue" by Arsenal's social media team, it is now unclear how serious the injury may be.

Zinchenko's absence was keenly felt in the recent loss, with his replacement, Jakub Kiwior, being substituted by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta at half-time. Arteta addressed the situation, stating that they are unsure of the extent of Zinchenko's injury and will have to wait for the scan results to determine how many games he may miss.

The absence of Zinchenko is particularly challenging for Arsenal, as they are lacking options at left-back. Kieran Tierney is on a season-long loan at Real Sociedad, and summer signing Jurrien Timber suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut. Kiwior was chosen over Takehiro Tomiyasu for the Fulham clash, as Tomiyasu had just returned from a calf injury and is set to join the Asian Cup to play for Japan.

Zinchenko's experience and success at Manchester City, where he won four Premier League titles, four League Cups, the FA Cup, and the Community Shield under Pep Guardiola, make him a valuable asset for Arsenal. The team is currently facing a challenging period and will need to return to winning ways to keep their hopes of winning their first league title in 20 years alive.

Arsenal's next game is not until January 20, when they face Liverpool in the third-round FA Cup clash. Both Arteta and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp are expected to rotate their squads after the busy Christmas period. Arteta emphasized the need for improvement and the importance of winning games with the current players in order to compete at the highest level in the league.

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