has confirmed has undergone groin surgery and will be out ‘for weeks’.
The international’s career has been blighted by injury setbacks and he is now set to miss a crucial part of the season as the Gunners look to solidify their position both in Europe and the Premier League.
Vieira was sent-off on his last appearance for the club for a dangerous tackle in the recent 3-1 win over Burnley and still has two matches of a three-game domestic ban to serve.
The 23-year-old did feature in and EFL Trophy match earlier this month and had been expected to play some part in tomorrow night’s Champions League game against Lens, where a positive result will see Arteta’s side qualify for the knockout stages.
Vieira, however, was absent from Tuesday afternoon’s training session and Arteta revealed the midfielder is now recovering following an operation.
The Arsenal manager, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said: ‘We’ve got a problem with him. He’s been having some discomfort.
‘He wasn’t improving and we sent him to a specialist, the advice was to have an operation which we did yesterday. We expect him to be out for weeks now.’
Arteta remains hopeful that Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey could feature before the turn of the year with Arsenal perilously light in midfield.
Mohamad Elneny has been used sparingly since his return following a year out with a serious knee injury, leaving Jorginho and Declan Rice as the only recognised senior central midfielders in the squad.
England Under-17 international Ethan Nwaneri trained with the first team squad this afternoon and could be involved in the matchday squad tomorrow.
Arteta did have better news with regards Ben White who is in contention to start having missed the aforementioned victory against Burnley and was fit enough only to make the bench on Saturday at Brentford.
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