Injury fears eased for Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Arsene Wenger predicts return before end of season

Arsene Wenger is hopeful of Henrikh Mkhitaryan featuring for Arsenal again this season despite the midfielder suffering ligament damage in Thursday's 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow.

Initial fears had Mkhitaryan out for the remainder of the term after limping out of the Europa League quarter-final first leg on the hour mark, with scans revealing ligament damage to his knee.

However Wenger, who had expressed concern that the Armenian could be sidelined for “several weeks”, now expects Mkhitaryan to only miss Arsenal’s next three games.

“Mkhitaryan has medial knee ligament damage,” Wenger told Standard Sport.

“He will not be available for Thursday, Newcastle away, or West Ham the week after. He will miss these games but could still play at the end of the season.”

Wenger is not short of choice when it comes to options to replace Mkhitaryan for Thursday’s second leg in Moscow.

Both Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck excelled in a 3-2 win over Southampton, the former providing two assists and the latter two goals and an assist.

via Evening Standard