Overview
- The injury happened during Arsenal’s 3-1 friendly loss to Real Betis in Dublin on Wednesday when Copley came on as a substitute and left the pitch in visible pain with medical staff helping him off.
- Mikel Arteta said a scan is planned for Thursday and warned the injury’s mechanism and symptoms do not look positive, with no definitive diagnosis or recovery timetable yet.
- Copley has been one of the most impressive academy players in pre-season and had been tried at right-back, a role that had opened a potential path to first-team minutes or a loan move.
- Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli were both given limited minutes in the same game and were withdrawn before the final quarter as the club manages fitness ahead of the next friendly with Borussia Dortmund.
- Arsenal’s broader availability issues mean a significant layoff for Copley could force changes to defensive cover and accelerate alternative plans for squad depth while the club awaits the scan results.