Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has described Emmanuel Frimpong injury setback as a "massive blow".
The highly-rated midfielder who has been angling for the opportunity to play for Ghana has been ruled out for up to nine months after injuring his knee in training.
The 18-year-old Ghanaian-born had been expected to break into the Premier League's side's first team this season.
Frimpong's injury comes after news that French midfielder Samir Nasri will be out for about four weeks after undergoing surgery on a knee problem.
"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."
