Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be out for close to two months due to a minor fracture in his left-leg.
A midfielder by trade, the 20-year-old played at left-back in Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the first game of their Premier League campaign on Sunday.
He came off after just 35 minutes on the pitch at the Emirates and it appears the midfielder will not be seeing any action for some time due to an injury he picked up.
Maitland-Niles has sustained a small fracture in his left leg and will be out of action for the Gunners for six to eight weeks.
Stephan Lichtsteiner took his place in the team against Manchester City and could star against Chelsea when the Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Nacho Monreal also returned to training earlier this week and could be an option for Unai Emery at left-back against the Blues, depending on his fitness.
A product of the Arsenal academy, Maitland-Niles broke into the first team last season under Arsene Wenger and has often been used in the wing-back positions despite being a midfielder.
The England Under-21 international has made 39 senior appearances for the Gunners.
