Bellerin injured his left knee during Arsenal’s win over Chelsea
Arsenal could be without Hector Bellerin for the rest of the season, according to a report.
The Spanish full-back injured his left knee during his side’s 2-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday evening, leaving the field of play on a stretcher.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal are yet to scan Bellerin’s knee but club doctors are said to fear that the injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
It is suspected that the 23-year-old has damaged ligaments, something that – if confirmed – is likely to keep him out for a timeframe of around six to nine months.
Manager Unai Emery confirmed earlier in the month that Arsenal will only be permitted to loan players during this transfer window, meaning Bellerin’s replacement for the rest of the campaign is likely to come from within their current squad.
Speaking after the win over Chelsea, Emery suggested that Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Carl Jenkinson would all be able to step in for Bellerin during his time out of the squad.
“We have Ainsley,” Emery said. “He played well and can help us. Also Lichtsteiner is another player who can play there. We have the players. Don’t forget Jenkinson who has played some matches and can be used if we need him.”
Victory over Chelsea saw Arsenal reclaim fifth place in the Premier League table after Manchester United had briefly leapfrogged them with their win over Brighton earlier in the day. It also saw them gain on Maurizio Sarri’s side, who are now just three points above them in fourth.
