Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno could be “facing up to a year out” with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, according to Goal‘s Gunners’ correspondent Charles Watts.

The 28-year-old had to be taken off in the first half of the 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the weekend after injuring his left knee in a collision with Seagulls striker Neal Maupay.

Arsenal’s medical team have yet to comment on the seriousness of Leno’s injury but if it is confirmed that the German is out for an extended period, it will be a massive setback for head coach Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners boss is already without Pablo Mari (ankle) for the rest of the campaign and midfielder Granit Xhaka is also in a race against time to recover his fitness before the end of the season.

With Leno sidelined, Arteta will have to place his faith in backup keeper Emi Martinez with the Argentinian international poised to keep goal for the remaining eight league fixtures.