Huge Arsenal blow as Ricardo Calafiori forced off injured in Champions League clash versus Shakhtar

ARSENAL star Riccardo Calafiori hobbled off injured against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Gunners won their third Champions League game of the season 1-0 – but the victory was dampened due to the defender appearing to hurt his knee.

GettyRiccardo Calafiori appeared to hurt his knee vs Shakhtar[/caption]

GettyThe defender receieved treatment but could not continue[/caption]

GettyHe hobbled off and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly[/caption]

With 68 minutes on the clock, Calafiori slipped and appeared to twist his leg on his way down.

The Italian briefly tried to soldier on after receiving treatment but immediately signalled to the bench that he would have to come off.

Team-mates Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard consoled him while he grimaced.

Calafiori was replaced by wonderkid Myles Lewis-Skelly.

But the 18-year-old’s introduction was delayed after the fourth official demanded he took out an ear piercing.

Calafiori has struggled with knee issues already this season and was seen wearing strapping after the win over Leicester in September.

His injury could speed up the return of Oleksandr Zinchenko from a knock.

The Ukrainian was named on the bench tonight but deemed not fit enough to play.

Zinchenko has not been seen since featuring for ten minutes in the 1-1 draw with Brighton back in August.

Arsenal welcome Liverpool to North London on Sunday in a huge game in the race for the Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta called Calafiori’s injury a “worry” after tonight’s win but did not rule him out the weekend’s game.

But he revealed Saka was “unlikely” to feature as he is yet to train since sustaining a hamstring issue.