Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star faces 'weeks' out after unexpected injury

Mikel Arteta has been handed another injury blow to navigate (Image: PA)

Mikel Arteta has said that Cristhian Mosquera faces 'weeks' on the side-lines as Arsenal suffer yet another injury blow.

The centre-half appeared to jar his leg during the Gunners' midweek clash with Brentford while jumping with Kevin Schade in an aerial duel. As a result, Mosquera seemingly felt pain in his ankle, but was later spotted on the ground signalling discomfort around his knee while receiving treatment.

While Arteta made it clear on Wednesday evening that he didn't know the severity of Mosquera's issue, it was enough to keep him side-lined for Arsenal's match with Aston Villa on Saturday. And when asked by reporters about the Spaniard's injury during his post-match press conference, the head coach told reporters: "He's going to be out for weeks.

"Unfortunately, it's much more than what we expected, the way he was feeling. So, he's going to be out for weeks."

It comes as a major blow given Arsenal are already relatively stretched at the back. William Saliba and Gabriel both missed Saturday's clash with Villa as a result of their own respective injuries, forcing a deployment of Piero Hincapie and Jurrien Timber in the heart of defence, flanked by Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White .

Saliba suffered a knock in the final training session ahead of Arsenal's 1-1 clash with Chelsea last month, and while Arteta said earlier this week that the Frenchman was "a matter of days" away from returning, he also missed the trip to Villa Park.

Elsewhere, Gabriel isn't expected to return to the squad until later this month, with the Brazilian picking up an adductor injury on international duty with Brazil in November. During the week, Arteta said of the star: "Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that's weeks as well."

Cristhian Mosquera faces weeks out of action (Image: Getty Images)

To make matters worse, Calafiori picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Villa, and will in-turn have to serve a one-match suspension against Wolves come Saturday, December 13. It's not just problems at the back that Arsenal have had to deal with as of late, however.

Kai Havertz has also missed out on the action since August as a result of undergoing knee surgery. He is also not expected to return until later this month.

It comes as the Gunners suffered just their second loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, enduring a crushing 2-1 loss to Villa away from home. Matty Cash opened the scoring for the hosts ahead of the break, before Leandro Trossard levelled matters early into the second.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa beat Arsenal (Image: Offside via Getty Images)

Emi Buendia then scored late into stoppage time to seal the deal for Unai Emery's Villa, in what could prove problematic in Arsenal's hopes of clinching the Premier League title this season. Up next for Arsenal is a trip to the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday, December 10 to face Club Brugge in the Champions League .

The Gunners then return to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, December 13 to play host to a struggling Wolves side - where they will hope to build their lead in the Premier League standings once again.