Arsenal confirm David Luiz underwent successful surgery on his right knee this morning and is at home recuperating… with Gunners defender now facing a race against time to return before the end of the season
- Arsenal’s David Luiz has undergone surgery on his right knee, the club revealed
- The Brazilian defender missed the Gunners’ 3-0 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday
- Mikel Arteta said he was unsure over whether Luiz would play again this term
- The Gunners have eight league games remaining plus their Europa League bid
Arsenal have confirmed that David Luiz has undergone surgery on his right knee and will return from fitness ‘in the upcoming weeks’.
The Brazilian centre-back missed the Gunners’ 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool on Saturday night, with Mikel Arteta admitting he was unsure as to whether Luiz would feature again this season.
The centre back, who turns 34 this month, now faces a race against time to get back fit in time for the rest of the season, with the Gunners hoping to enjoy success in the Europa League and the final eight matches of the Premier League season.
Arsenal defender David Luiz has undergone surgery on his right knee but will return in weeks
Arsenal boss MIkel Arteta (left) was unsure if Luiz (right) would play again this season
A statement from the Arsenal medical staff read: ‘The procedure has been a success and David is now back at home rehabilitating.
‘He will be able to return to daily support and recovery with our medical team at the training centre in the coming days.
‘David is expected to be back to full fitness and available for selection in the upcoming weeks.’
Luiz wrote on Instagram from his hospital bed: ‘The procedure has been a success and I will go home soon! Just want to thank u all for the support messages and for the medical staff that did a great job! I WILL BE BACK STRONGER!!! Let’s keep fighting all together, never give up !!! #HAPPYEASTER’
Luiz said the operation was a success and he is hopeful he will be back training very soon
Luiz has played 29 times this term but has a race against time to return before the season’s end
The Brazilian defender has played 29 times in all competitions for the north Londoners this season, including starts in five out of Arsenal’s last six league matches.
Arsenal were beaten quite comfortably on Saturday night without Luiz with Diogo Jota scoring a brace either side of Mohamed Salah’s strike.
The Gunners were disappointing in attack and tested Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker just twice – a tame header from Nicolas Pepe and a long-range strike from Cedric Soares.
Speaking about Luiz’s chances of featuring again this season, Arsenal manager Arteta said: ‘I don’t know. It will depend what the decision we take is. If it’s more conservative, it will be short-term. If it’s a bit more radical with what he needs, it will take longer.’
Luiz’s Arsenal will want to end the season strongly and can still win the Europa League
The loss to Liverpool means Arsenal remain nine points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with eight games remaining of the league season.
Luiz will be unavailable for Arsenal’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg against Slavia Prague on Thursday night. Should the Gunners win the competition, they will qualify for next season’s Champions League group stages.
The Gunners were dealt another blow in defence on Saturday night when Kieran Tierney limped out in the first-half of the Liverpool game.
