Six-Week Injury Blow Clouds Arsenal's Treble Dream
24 March 2026
Six-Week Injury Blow Clouds Arsenal's Treble Dream
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta has been handed another blow just as the decisive run-in begins, with a calf issue to midfielder Ezi threatening their bid to win three trophies this season.
The Gunners were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final last weekend, snatching away their first piece of silverware of the campaign.
Injury-riddled times have hit Arsenal hard, with Ezi among the sidelined squad members. The 27-year-old picked up a calf strain in last week's win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, causing him to miss the match against City and forcing him out of England's squad during the current international break.
BBC reported that he could be out for between four and six weeks, a timeline that would stretch into the most critical part of the season. Arteta said Ezi will undergo a thorough medical assessment this week to gauge the seriousness of the strain.
Beyond the immediate setback, the absence comes as Arsenal chase three trophies: the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. The team will rely on other leaders to keep the run going.
There is some relief in the potential return of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been dealing with a knee issue and has missed a month of action. He is expected to be ready after the international break, with Norway's friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland taking a back seat to his recovery.
Arsenal still lead the Premier League table on 70 points, nine clear of City, who have a game in hand, with seven games left in the season. The London club also sits in the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Sporting CP and has reached the FA Cup quarterfinals, while their domestic cup opponents are Southampton, who compete in the Championship.
Punchline 1: Arsenal's injuries are so persistent that the medical staff should consider a revolving door for players. Punchline 2: If they pull off the treble with this squad, the trophy cabinet will need a forklift.
