Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that David Luiz is still feeling discomfort from the injury that forced him off against Leicester.
The defender is unlikely to face Dundalk in the Europa League, and is also a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday.
Luiz left the field shortly after the start of the second half of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat against Leicester at the weekend with a muscular issue.
Arsenal have been able to welcome Shkodran Mustafi to the first-team fold, as the centre-back made his first appearance of the season as a substitute for Luiz.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 1")
And Arteta has cast doubt on the Brazilian defender returning in either of the next two matches.
“David is still having some discomfort in that area,” Arteta told reporters. “To play Dundalk there is no chance and it’s a big doubt for him to play at the weekend.
“Musti’s completely fit to play and obviously the internal contract situations are going to be discussed internally.
“I’ve been really happy with Musti since I joined and the progress that he’s made, the performances that he’s made.
“It’s true that he has a long term injury and he’s worked really hard to get back in that position where he is today and I just want him to show again the trust that we have in him and get the performances that we got in the past from him as well.
I think they were a few cases when we joined in that position. What we tried to do was help the players as much as possible, encourage them to ply with confidence, try to give them the right solutions and then it’s up to them to show with their performances where they are.”
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