Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi will be sidelined for up to four weeks, a source has told ESPN FC, adding another injury blow to Arsene Wenger's team.
Iwobi was substituted just before the hour mark in the Gunners' 4-3 loss to Liverpool on Sunday with what Wenger described as a thigh strain, and a source said on Wednesday that he could be out for up to a month.
That would rule him out of Arsenal's next two games, against Leicester on Saturday and Watford the following weekend before a possible return on Sept. 10 against Southampton. He would also miss Nigeria's final African Nations Cup qualifier against Tanzania, though the Super Eagles have already been eliminated.
However, the source told ESPN FC that Iwobi could well be back earlier than that as he is already in physiotherapy and responding well.
Iwobi himself had said on social media that "hopefully my thigh strain isn't too serious," but looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
Disappointing Result , Gotta Pick Our Heads Up & Go Again ... Hopefully My Thigh Strain Isn't Too Serious GodWilling ����⚽️ #AFC #COYG
- Alexander Iwobi (@alexiwobi) August 14, 2016
Wenger could also be without Aaron Ramsey for the same period, with the Wales midfielder suffering a hamstring injury against Liverpool. Wenger is set to give an official update on the injuries during his news conference on Thursday.
Arsenal are also without centre-back duo Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, while key trio Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny could be available for the Leicester game. All three were rested for Sunday's Premier League opener following extended breaks after Euro 2016.