Arsenal lost their first pre-season game against Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid. After the game Arsenal’s manager, Unai Emery surprisingly admitted that the serious injury to Los Blancos midfielder Marco Asensio “could be bad news” for the Gunners hopes of signing Dani Ceballos.

The Spanish midfielder was on the pitch for just 20 minutes in Real Madrid’s International Champions Cup clash with Gunners, scoring Los Blancos’ second goal in a 2-2 draw and 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory before he was taken off with an apparent knee injury and taken to the hospital immediately.

Real Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane also admitted the injury looked “worrying” for the team, and Arsenal boss conceded his team might find it difficult to complete a season-long loan for Ceballos if Los Blancos are short of midfielders. Talks between Arsenal and Real Madrid progressed in the build up to the clash in Washington and a deal was expected to be wrapped up this week. Asked whether the injury would affect the prospective deal, Emery told reporters.

“I don’t know. “Our target also was not to take injuries in that match, and they maybe have with Asensio. “It [could be] bad news, for them and also for us. I don’t know if it can change something.”

The former Paris Saint Germain coach was also asked about the future of club captain Laurent Koscielny, who refused to travel for the team’s pre-season tour in the United States and has been linked with a move to Olympique Lyon, Bordeaux, and Borussia Dortmund. Koscielny has one year left on his Arsenal contract and the coach indicated he feels he has done all he can to keep the 33-year-old at Emirates Stadium.

“I’ve spoken about him, concerning him,” said Emery. “I tried to be with us in the position here and continue working and finding one solution between the club, between him and us. “When he decided not to come here with us on tour, the solution is now only for the club and him.

“He decided to be out. I respect him but I have a responsibility, he has a responsibility, and the club have their responsibility. Now it’s one issue only for the club and him. “My idea is to continue with the players we are working with, and the players that want to be here.”