Nacho Monreal added to Unai Emery’s defensive headache by limping out of Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Burnley, but the Gunners boss is confident he will not be without the defender for too long.
Monreal was withdrawn in the 37th minute at the Emirates Stadium, forcing Emery to switch from a four-man defence to a back-three with Sokratis Papastathopoulos marshalling midfielder Granit Xhaka and right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Emery had been without four centre-backs prior to kick-off, though club captain Laurent Koscielny was rested as he continues his recovery from the Achilles injury that sidelined him for seven months.
Arsenal will need all the numbers they can muster for a festive period that sees them travel to Brighton and Liverpool before hosting Fulham on January 1.
Monreal is unlikely to feature in the next of those games, at the Amex Stadium on Boxing Day, but should not miss the entire festive period.
“[Monreal’s injury] was muscular, we decided to change and not take more risk with him,” Emery told Standard Sport. “I hope it’s not too big and he can be with us for the next week.
“I don’t know if he can play at Brighton, but Koscielny can play I think and [Shkodran] Mustafi is close also.”
In Pictures | Arsenal vs Burnley | 22/12/2018
Henrikh Mkhitaryan could also be available after injuring his right ankle against Tottenham in midweek, while Lucas Torreira is in line to start after being named among the substitutes against Burnley.
