Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno has managed to avoid serious ligament damage to his knee and could return to the club’s training in four weeks, the gunners have confirmed.
Leno was stretchered off in the game against Brighton and it was feared he would miss around nine months of football action.
But ahead of their game against Southampton on Thursday, Arsenal announced the injury is not as bad as first feared.
A statement read: ‘Right knee. Positive news after detailed assessments. Sustained moderate ligament sprain during Brighton & Hove (a) on Saturday. Aiming to return to full training in four to six weeks.’
Leno was in pain when he landed awkwardly on his right leg through the challenge of Brighton player Neal Maupay.
The German keeper hurled abuse at Maupay as he left the pitch, feeling the player had injured him on purpose.
But, Maupay apologised to Leno after the match, but said he never intended to hurt Leno.
‘At half-time I went to Mikel Arteta, their manager, to apologise because I never meant to injure their keeper,’ Maupay told BT Sport.
‘I just jumped to get the ball maybe and when he landed he just twisted his knee, so I apologise to their team and to him as well.
‘I’ve been through a bad injury so I know it’s hard but I never meant to hurt him.
‘But some of the Arsenal players need to learn humility maybe sometimes. They’ve been talking a lot first half, second half when they were 1-0 up – they got what they deserved.’
