Arsenal confirmed fears that Lucas Torreira had fractured his ankle yesterday but Mikel Arteta insists he could still return this season.
Torreira will see a specialist today (FRI) after scans revealed he suffered a small fracture to his right ankle against Portsmouth on Monday.
But Arteta insists his season may not yet be over – confirming that Arsenal’s initial hopes for his recovery were correct.
Asked for a best case scenario, Arteta said: “With the best one I'm not optimistic he will be available in a week or two.
“Hopefully he can avoid any surgeries which is always very traumatic and hopefully we can have him before the end of the season, it would be much better.
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“He was quite positive this morning. We don't really know exactly the extent of the injury. He needs to see the specialist on Friday.”
Meanwhile, Arteta insists Aubameyang is desperate to make up for his Europa League miss against Olympiakos when the Gunners face West Ham this weekend.
And he also revealed for the first time that he wants to sit down and sort out his captain’s future before the summer.
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Arteta said: “We will have to do that at some stage before the end of the season for sure.
“We will see the intentions that we have. His intentions. Where we are sitting in that moment.
“I think it is difficult to predict that context right now. For me it is very easy. I want to keep him under any circumstances.”
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Top scorer Aubameyang, 30, insists he wants to stay but is out of contract in the summer of 2021 and has interest from Barcelona.
His late miss against Olympiakos means Arsenal's only route back into Europe is now through the league.
And Arteta said: “He was down. He felt responsible for what happened. We need him happy, smiling and full of energy. That's the way he's looked for the last few days.”
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