Mikel Arteta has a selection headache in defence ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Monaco.
Six defenders missed training on Tuesday afternoon, while Thomas Partey - who has been playing as a makeshift right-back - was also absent.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu will definitely miss Wednesday’s game against Monaco at Emirates Stadium due to knee injuries.
Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Partey and Riccardo Calafiori are all doubts after missing training on Tuesday afternoon.
Standard Sport takes a look at what solutions are available to Arteta as he tries to patch up his defence…
Arsenal could again be without Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Hand Tierney a rare start
You have to go all the way back to August 2023 to find the last time Kieran Tierney turned out for Arsenal.
Tierney came off the bench as the Gunners beat Manchester City in the Community Shield, but he was then loaned to Real Sociedad for the rest of last season.
A hamstring injury picked up at Euro 2024 playing for Scotland meant the left-back stayed put this summer - and now he could be given a rare start and make a first appearance of the season.
Tierney could come into the defence at left-back, or even on the other flank as he has played there for Scotland in the past.
Tierney was a key player for Arteta in the early part of his reign but he moved on from him because the Scot could not tuck into midfield from left-back.
If he plays against Monaco, Arteta has confirmed he will use the 27-year-old as a conventional full-back.
Possible back-four: Tierney, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly
Kieran Tierney could fill in at right-back
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Drop Rice into the defence
Arteta is not afraid of using Rice as an emergency centre-back and he trialled it in the Champions League last season.
Coincidentally, it was almost exactly a year to the day that Rice played there for Arsenal in their dead rubber against PSV Eindhoven.
The England star was shifted into midfield for the final 30 minutes and put in a solid performance.
Rice has experience of playing in the heart of defence as he began his career there before moving into midfield.
If he was picked in defence, it would likely mean that Jorginho starts again at the base of midfield after doing so against Fulham.
Rice dropping into defence would mean that Jakub Kiwior could play as a left-back, which has done in the past.
Possible back-four: Tierney, Rice, Saliba, Kiwior
Declan Rice is an option to partner William Saliba in defence
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Play Saliba at right-back
This is probably the most ambitious plan available to Arteta and it would be a bold call.
William Saliba has been superb for Arsenal in the heart of their defence and moving him out of there, when Gabriel is an injury doubt, feels risky.
Saliba, however, has experience at right-back from his youth career and loan spell at Marseille.
He is, probably, Arsenal’s best option at right-back and would undoubtedly do a decent job there. The issue is, however, Saliba is also Arsenal’s best option at centre-back.
If he were to move there it could mean Rice drops into the defence or Ayden Heaven is given a chance at centre-back.
The 18-year-old is highly thought of by Arsenal and made his debut for the club in October in the Carabao Cup during a trip to Preston.
Possible back-four: Saliba, Rice, Kiwior, Tierney
MORE ABOUT
Mikel Arteta
Kieran Tierney
Declan Rice
William Saliba
Have your say...
VIEW COMMENTS
Shopping Best Buys