Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera is facing 'weeks' on the sidelines for Arsenal due to injury.
The Gunners saw their Premier League title challenge suffer a huge blow on Saturday as they fell to a late 2-1 defeat away at Aston Villa.
Cristhian Mosquera goes off injured for Arsenal.
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Mosquera's midweek injury will see him miss the coming weeks for ArsenalCredit: AFP
Emi Buendia scored the winner with the last kick of the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time against the league leaders at Villa Park.
Arsenal were without regular centre-back duo of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba with injury, with Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie starting in their absence.
Mosquera was also missing from the squad following an ankle knock that he picked up during their 2-0 win over Brentford midweek.
Speaking after the defeat on Saturday, manager Arteta revealed that the Spaniard faces an extended period away from action to recover.
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"He's going to be out for weeks," he said in his press conference.
"Unfortunately, it's much more than what we expected, the way he was feeling. So, he's going to be out for weeks."
Gunner drop off?
Arsenal got themselves back on track against Brentford during the week just days after settling for a 1-1 draw at ten-man Chelsea.
A win against Villa would have briefly sent them eight points clear at the summit.
But their lead is now down to two ahead of the busy festive period following Manchester City's 3-0 win against Sunderland.
Eberechi Eze thought he netted the opener for Arsenal after 22 minutes with a tap-in, but Bukayo Saka was offside in the build-up.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
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Arteta confirmed the news of the defender's injury shortly after defeatCredit: Getty
Emi Buendia scores for Aston Villa.
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Buendia won all three points for Villa in a dramatic finaleCredit: AFP
Matty Cash then fired Villa ahead before the break with a half-volley that flew through the legs of David Raya.
Arsenal went level seven minutes into the second half via Leandro Trossard, who was later taken off despite being a substitute.
Villa won all three points in the final minute of stoppage time after a chaotic phase of play.
The ball pinballed inside the area and eventually found the feet of Buendia, who smashed in past Raya to spark pandemonium.
It's a result that has taken Villa, who were winless in their first five league fixtures, to within three points of Arsenal.