Football: Arsenal star Danny Welbeck faces stint on the sidelines after serious ankle injury

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck grimaces after sustaining an injury against Sporting CP. Photo / Getty Images

Danny Welbeck faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a horrific looking ankle injury during Arsenal's Europa League game against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night.

With the game still goalless, Welbeck landed awkwardly after jumping to beat Bruno Gaspar to a cross and although the incident initially looked innocuous enough, the forward quickly signalled to the referee and surrounding players that he needed medical help.

Photos quickly emerged showing that Welbeck's right foot had been caught underneath him as he fell to the floor and bent backwards underneath his own weight.

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck lands awkwardly on his ankle. Photo / Getty Images

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck lands awkwardly on his ankle. Photo / Getty Images

As his worried teammates watched, Welbeck was given an oxygen mask by the Arsenal staff that were checking on him.

After a lengthy break in play, and with Matteo Guendouzi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos among the Arsenal players looking most concerned, Welbeck was stretchered off the pitch as the Emirates crowd sang his name.

Mesut Ozil and Gary Neville were among those to tweet a message of support to Welbeck.

Oh no ... get well soon Danny 😞🙏🏼 #Welbeck @Arsenal

— Mesut Özil (@M10) November 8, 2018

Welbeck had earlier in the day been named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming friendly against USA and the UEFA Nations League meeting with Croatia.

The Europa League had provided Welbeck with the majority of his football this season, and he scored the only goal in Arsenal's win at Sporting a fortnight ago.

The 27-year-old has had terrible luck with injuries throughout his career and this latest blow will be a huge source of frustration for a popular player who was clearly a part of Southgate's England plans.