Mikel Arteta provides fresh injury update on Lucas Torreira after Portsmouth clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on Lucas Torreira following the club’s 2-0 win over Portsmouth in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Uruguay international was substituted with a worrying ankle injury in the 16th minute following a strong challenge from Portsmouth’s James Bolton.

It was suggested in the second half that Torreira had only sustained an ankle sprain but speaking in the post-match press conference, Arteta said that the midfielder was in a lot of pain.

He added that the 24-year-old is currently in a brace and the exact nature of the concern will be assessed in the next few days, he told: “He was in a lot of pain.”

“He is in a brace at the moment, he will be assessed in the next few days and we will know more then. I don’t know if it’s the bone or ligaments, we don’t know yet.”

Torreira has endured a tough period since the club’s return from the winter break and he was handed his first start in five matches during last night’s FA Cup fifth round tie.

As such, his substitution was definitely a disappointing sight and hopefully, he has only suffered an ankle sprain and is able to return to action at the earliest possibility.

Arsenal are scheduled to host West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Granit Xhaka and Daniel Ceballos will most certainly take up the positions at the heart of the midfield.

Arteta’s side will be eyeing a third-straight Premier League triumph, something which has not been achieved over the course of the current season.