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Arsenal confirm fresh double injury blow – 6 players could miss Everton trip
Arsenal are facing a defensive crisis as Sead Kolasinac has joined Kieran Tierney on the sidelines ahead of Saturday’s trip to Everton.
Tierney dislocated his shoulder during Arsenal’s 3-1 win over West Ham at the London Stadium earlier this month and he’s been ruled out for around three months after undergoing surgery this week.
The pressure was on Kolasinac to stay fit during Tierney’s absence but unfortunately he limped out of the defeat to Manchester City last weekend and the club have confirmed he suffered an ankle ligament injury.
Kolasinac will not only miss the trip to Everton tomorrow but he’s set to miss the entire festive and New Year period as he’s not expected to return to training until some point in January. It leaves Arsenal without a recognised left-back so it looks like Ainsley Maitland-Niles may have to fill-in for the foreseeable future.
AMN has been playing at right-back lately while Hector Bellerin has been nursing a hamstring injury and the Spaniard remains a doubt for the Everton game this weekend so we might need to shuffle things around at the back if he’s ruled out.
Rob Holding is another defender who’s been on the sidelines recently and he’ll need a late fitness test to see if he can return for the trip to Merseyside tomorrow. Let’s pray Bellerin and Holding are fit as we desperately need them to boost our options in defence.
Arsenal have also revealed a fresh injury blow with the news that Mesut Ozil is a doubt for the Everton game after picking up a foot injury against City last weekend but Granit Xhaka is available again after missing the last two games with concussion.
A team news update on Arsenal.com said:
Hector Bellerin
Tight right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Everton (a).Dani Ceballos
Left hamstring. Sustained during Vitoria SC (a) on November 6. Will miss Everton (a). Aiming to return to full training next week.Rob Holding
Left knee. Bruising to knee. Being assessed ahead of Everton (a).Sead Kolasinac
Right ankle. Ankle ligament injury sustained during Manchester City (h). Aiming to return to full training in January.Mesut Ozil
Right foot. Sustained during Manchester City (h). Being assessed ahead of Everton (a).Kieran Tierney
Right shoulder. Dislocated right shoulder during West Ham United (a). Kieran had successful surgery this week and will now rehabilitate for around three months, aiming to return to full training in March.Granit Xhaka
Available for selection after concussion sustained during West Ham United (a).
The squad is being hit by injuries at a terrible time as our form has been woeful and the players are low on confidence so the last thing we need is an injury crisis, especially in defence.
Freddie Ljungberg will remain in charge against Everton tomorrow but Mikel Arteta is set to be unveiled as Arsenal’s new permanent manager and he has his work cut out trying to turn our season around with an injury-hit squad.