Thomas Tuchel ‘sad and upset’ over Noni Madueke injury to spark Arsenal fears

Thomas Tuchel has admitted he is ‘worried’ for Noni Madueke after the Arsenal winger was forced off during England’s friendly draw with Uruguay.

With his club teammate Bukayo Saka among those given the night off on Friday, Madueke started on the right but was forced off after just 38 minutes after a challenge from Rodrigo Aguirre.

The former Chelsea star was immediately substitute and was spotted leaving Wembley that night with a heavy limp and wearing a brace on his left knee.

While the exact nature of the injury is still to be revealed, Tuchel’s initial assessment of the situation did not sound positive.

‘I’m worried, of course, because I think he was a difference-maker today,” Tuchel said.

‘He started well, he was full of energy, he was ready to go.’

‘And I think against a team like Uruguay, who relies on one-against-ones, to isolate them there and to go in one-against-ones from every minute out there, the spaces open up and he could have been a key player for us, which he is.

‘Very sad and upset and hopefully it’s not a big injury.’

Madueke joined the Gunners from Chelsea for £52million last summer and has chipped in with seven goals and four assists.

The 24-year-old missed over two months of action earlier in the season after suffering a medial knee ligament in a league match against Manchester City in September.

Arsenal will be desperate for his latest issue not to be as serious with Mikel Arteta’s side still fighting on three fronts, nine points clear in the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup.

Arsenal have already lost Eberechi Eze to injury with the in-form attacking midfielder missing the defeat to City at Wembley last weekend.

It has since been revealed the former Crystal Palace star will miss four to six weeks with a calf injury.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes withdrew from international duty with France and Brazil with ankle and knee issues respectively.

Leandro Trossard also sits out of international duty with Belgium, as his Martin Odegaard as he finishes his recovery from a knee issue.