Arsenal left with just five defenders after injuries to Tomiyasu and Tierney
The Gunners could be forced to play a makeshift defence against Manchester City
Arsenal have been left with just five fit senior defenders after injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney. Tomiyasu suffered a muscle injury in Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday, while Tierney has been ruled out for a month with an ankle problem. The injuries leave Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta with a major selection headache ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester City.
Who are Arsenal's fit defenders?
Arsenal's five fit senior defenders are:
- Ben White
- Gabriel
- William Saliba
- Rob Holding
- Cedric Soares
Who is likely to play in defence against Manchester City?
Arteta is likely to field a back four of Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba and Rob Holding against Manchester City. Cedric Soares is the only other fit defender in the squad, but he is more comfortable playing at right-back. Holding has not played a Premier League game since August, but he is likely to be drafted into the team due to the lack of other options.
What are Arsenal's other options in defence?
If Arteta does not want to play Holding, he could field a back three of White, Gabriel and Saliba. This would leave Cedric Soares as the wing-back on the right, with Granit Xhaka or Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left. However, this formation would leave Arsenal vulnerable to counter-attacks, as neither Xhaka nor Zinchenko are natural defenders.
Is there any good news for Arsenal?
The good news for Arsenal is that Tomiyasu is expected to be fit to return after the international break. Tierney, however, is likely to be out for longer. The Scotland international has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, and this latest setback is a major blow to Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the top four.
