Arsenal may have received a potential injury blow on international duty with Lucas Torreira spotted wearing an ice pack on his left calf during a recent friendly against Mexico.
The Uruguay international started the international friendly against El Tri but was taken off at half-time of the country’s 4-1 triumph after sustaining an injury on his left calf for which he required an ice pack.
As such, Standard Sport reports that the Gunners are sweating over the fitness of the former Sampdoria man and his participation against Newcastle United this weekend could be a touch and go.
Since joining the club, Torreira has been widely fancied to make the starting XI for the Gunners but manager Unai Emery has resisted the idea having started him from the bench in the each of the first four league games.
Despite this, the Uruguayan has made a meaningful impact from the bench and his assist for Alexandre Lacazette’s winner at Cardiff City may have done enough to convince Emery to start him from the off.
As things stand, Torreira has been deemed doubtful ahead of the weekend encounter and should this remain the case, Mateo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka are most likely to command the starting role in the centre of the park.
Arsenal have made a below-par start to the season with just six points from the first four matches but they have the opportunity to build on the recent two-game winning streak when they face Newcastle United on the road this weekend.
Thereafter, Emery’s men are scheduled to entertain Ukrainian side Vorskla in the Europe League group stage opener and the game should witness a Gunners debut for goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
