Attention, Sporting: Arsenal star's injury more serious than anticipated

Bad news for Arsenal. Following a re-evaluation, Eberechi Eze is facing a potential month-long layoff, a crucial period for the London club, according to the BBC.

The 27-year-old attacking midfielder sustained a muscle injury in his leg during last week's 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. This setback already forced him to miss Sunday's 2-0 League Cup final defeat to Manchester City and led to his withdrawal from the latest England squad.

Sources close to the club reportedly indicated initial fears point to an absence of four to six weeks. Mikel Arteta stated that Eze will undergo a definitive examination this week to determine the full extent of the injury.

Eze's absence is a significant blow to Arsenal's ambitions, as they compete for three trophies with crucial Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup fixtures on the horizon.

In the Champions League, this injury likely means the former Crystal Palace star, who has nine goals and six assists in 41 appearances this season, will miss both quarter-final clashes against Sporting – at Alvalade on April 7th and at the Emirates on April 15th.

However, the imminent return of captain Martin Odegaard could help mitigate the impact of the English midfielder's absence. The Norwegian has been sidelined for a month with a knee injury, but there is hope he will be fit to compete after the international break.

The midfielder will miss his national team's matches against the Netherlands and Switzerland to focus on his recovery and ensure his quickest possible return.

While Eze's injury is a setback, the fact that it occurred during the international break helps minimize the number of games he will miss. Arsenal's next fixture is scheduled for Saturday, April 4th, against Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, a competition where Arteta has often rotated his squad.