Arsenal youngster Emmanuel Frimpong will be sidelined for up to nine months after damaging his cruciate ligament in his knee.
The 18-year old Ghanaian-born England youth midfielder, who was being touted for first team action this season, will miss at least six months and as much as nine according to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, joining Samir Nasri on the sidelines.
"Samir's injury is a blow for us and a blow for France as well," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
"He was continuing his natural progression and had a very good pre-season.
"But we have had another blow with Emmanuel Frimpong. He has done his cruciate in training. That is a massive blow. A cartilage is three to four weeks but a cruciate like that one Frimpong did yesterday is six to nine months.
"I rate him highly and I still have a lot of faith in him but we will miss him for six to nine months."
