Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that Eddie Nketiah is still "a few weeks away" from recovering from an ankle injury.
The English striker had performed admirably in the absence of Gabriel Jesus during the earliest portion of 2023 but has not played since the 4-0 win over Everton two weeks ago.
Nketiah had been dropped from the starting lineup for that success over the Toffees, as well as Arsenal's previous triumph over Leicester City due to his ankle problem, although it is unclear when he first sustained the issue.
In any case, the 23-year-old has been forced to sit out Arsenal's last three matches in all competitions, leaving Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to rotate in the number nine role.
Recent reports have claimed that Nketiah could now remain in the treatment room until after the international break, and Arteta was asked about his recovery ahead of Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg against Sporting Lisbon.
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While the Gunners boss confirmed that the Hale End graduate was improving from the "nasty" problem, he admitted that it would still be a few weeks before he could return, likely ruling him out until April.
"He's getting better, he's still in the boot and still a few weeks away, we need to be patient," Arteta said in his pre-game press conference. "It was a nasty injury and he has a real challenge ahead of him, but thank god he could have been worse, so he's not in a bad place."
Predominantly featuring up top during Jesus's recovery, Nketiah has nine goals and two assists from 32 games in all tournaments this term, and Arteta was working without all three of his central options for the first leg at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
However, Jesus made his long-awaited return from knee surgery in the weekend's win over Fulham, while Trossard also made a rapid recovery from a groin problem to record three first-half assists at Craven Cottage.
Jesus could now come into contention for his first start of the year against Sporting, but Arteta has nevertheless stressed the need to build up the striker's minutes gradually.
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"It was great to see him back, you can feel the happiness of everybody around him. We missed him and now he's back," Arteta added.
"We have to manage his minutes, we have to manage his involvement in the team, but he's feeling good and everybody at training says that his sensations are getting better so that's really positive."
Arteta also has the option of using Emile Smith Rowe in a false nine role, but the 22-year-old has not started a single game this season due to a groin injury, and Arteta has challenged him to fight for his right to return to the first XI.
"He knows how much we love him, we need his qualities and now he needs to prove it. He needs to prove how much he wants to win and how much he's going to contribute to win and that's how he's going to get into the team," Arteta added.
William Saliba was on target for Arsenal in the first leg before Goncalo Inacio and Paulinho turned the tie on its head, but a Hidemasa Morita own goal rescued a 2-2 draw for the Gunners ahead of their Emirates reunion.
Ben Knapton
