Arsenal rocked by serious knee injury to compound red card

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Arsenal have had their fair share of injury issues at the start of the season, with their luck extending to another long-term blow that could scupper future plans

Mikel Arteta in Arsenal training
Arsenal have been rocked by another major injury (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal have been dealt with bad injury news, on top of a red card.

The Gunners had an excellent weekend in which major rivals all lost and demons were exorcised at St. James' Park in a 2-1 win where Mikel Arteta's side made a major statement over their title credentials.

Arsenal now sit just two points behind leaders Liverpool – but Arteta will know that this is a long season, with luck having deserted his side already with injuries.

After a red card, Arsenal have more bad injury news

Noni Madueke, Arsenal

Arsenal have had big injuries this season (Image credit: Getty Images)

We're just six games into the season, but Arteta has already had to deal with injuries to several key players as he juggles four competitions – with three first-half substitutions enforced in Arsenal's first four fixtures.

Bukayo Saka hobbled off against Leeds United, William Saliba has only just returned from an ankle injury, while Martin Odegaard has already been forced off twice – and that's without touching on issues sustained by Ben White, Piero Hincapie, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz at this early point in the season.

Martin Odegaard injured his shoulder against Forest

Martin Odegaard injured his shoulder against Forest (Image credit: Getty Images)

It gets even worse for Arsenal – but indirectly – as Fabio Vieira appeared to suffer a serious knee injury on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

The Athletic reported over the summer that the Gunners were looking at a £17 million buy-out clause for a loan exit for the Portuguese, who eventually moved to HSV after talks with Stuttgart broke down.

Vieira was dismissed in stoppage time against Union Berlin at the weekend in a 0-0 draw but looked to be in pain from a knee injury, with both Arsenal and Hamburg hoping that the playmaker hasn't damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.

This loan was perhaps Arsenal's best chance to recoup as much of the £30m they spent in 2026, before Vieira was allowed to leave for a free at the end of 2027 when his contract expired.

Fabio Vieira of Hamburger SV fouls Leopold Querfeld of 1.FC Union Berlin resulting in a red card during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Hamburger SV at Stadion An der Alten Foersterei on September 28, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.

Vieira fouls Leopold Querfeld… gets injured in the process (Image credit: Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The Portuguese impressed in flashes in North London but injuries and consistency hampered him from ever really challenging Martin Odegaard for a starting berth – and should this knee injury be as serious as it looks, his season in Germany may well already be over.

Vieira is valued at €22m by Transfermarkt. Arsenal are back in Champions League action this week when Olympiacos come to the Emirates Stadium.

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.

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