Arsenal dealt massive injury blow ahead of Leicester clash

Arsenal boss Unai Emery [Courtesy]

Arsenal have confirmed that midfielder Dani Ceballos is out of Saturday's trip to Leicester City.

The Spanish midfielder has featured in every single Gunners game in all competitions since his arrival on loan from Real Madrid, either starting the match or coming on from the bench.

He scored his only Gunners goal to date in the 4-0 win over Standard Liege in the Europa League last month, but having been substituted in the 54th minute of the 1-1 draw at Vitoria in the same competition on Wednesday, he will now miss the trip to the King Power Stadium to face Brendan Rodgers' Foxes.

Arsenal confirmed on their website that Ceballos sustained an injury to his left hamstring in Portugal, and although he is currently being assessed he will miss the Leicester clash.

Arsenal have confirmed that midfielder Dani Ceballos is out of Saturday's trip to Leicester City [Courtesy]

Gunners boss Unai Emery appeared to confirm that Ceballos would be out after the draw on Wednesday, telling BT Sport: "He has a small injury but I don't think he is [going to be available] for the next weeks."

When pressed on whether Ceballos' absence could mean recalls for either Mesut Ozil or Granit Xhaka at Leicester, he added: "We are going to prepare for the match with the players, some players had a rest today and maybe someone who played this evening.

"But I think every player can be another possibility to play for Saturday and to be ready."

The injury is likely to keep Ceballos out of the forthcoming Spain squad for their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Malta and Romania next week.

Arsenal go into the game at Leicester six points behind the Foxes in the table, knowing that a defeat would both damage their top-four hopes and heap more pressure on beleaguered boss Emery.