Cruel injury blow strikes reported summer Arsenal target Yusuf Yazici

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Arsenal were linked with Yusuf Yazici during the summer and the Turkish prodigy has now suffered a cruel injury blow.

The Gunners were linked with the ex-Trabzonspor playmaker before his £15 million switch to Lille (AA).

Yazici had started the season slowly. Despite Lille flying high domestically, they failed to win a game in Group H of the Champions League alongside Chelsea.

On a personal level, he hasn’t really got going yet either. The No.10 has registered four assists and scored one goal, starting nine of Lille’s 19 Ligue 1 fixtures.

Arsenal were linked (Express) with a move for the man with 19 Turkey caps but opted to sign Pepe from Lille instead.

Disaster struck for Yazici on Saturday when he ruptured his ACL during a 5-1 defeat to Monaco.

It’s a cruel blow for the youngster who will now be sidelined for the best part of a year and miss out on a chance to play at Euro 2020.

Arsenal landed Pepe for the best part of £70 million and he, like Yazici at Lille, is yet to really got going.

The difference, of course, is the sizeable valuation that came with Pepe.

Yazici might now be seen as a bullet dodged. ACL injuries are a nightmare to come back from and it could take him years to return to his best.

Arsenal will hope their decision to spend big on Pepe will bear some fruit.

With Yazici now facing a long rehabilitation process they certainly won’t live to rue their transfer decision in the short-term.

Only time will tell whether it becomes a future regret for the Gunners.