Arsenal might be forced to start the William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes defensive partnership against Fulham in their Premier League opener.
This is because The Athletic reports that David Luiz has aggravated the neck injury he suffered in the Community Shield against Liverpool.
The Brazilian was nursing the injury before seeming to have made it worse in training.
It adds that he might miss as much as six weeks, handing Mikel Arteta a selection headache.
The Spaniard has bolstered his options at the back with the signing of Gabriel and the return of Saliba from his loan spell at Saint Etienne, however, both players haven’t played competitive football since March and they haven’t played any game for the Gunners.
Luiz’s injury adds to a long list of defenders who are out of action including Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari.
The Gunners can still use Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding to make the numbers up at the back should they decide not to throw in the new recruits.
Holding is wanted by Newcastle United, but this injury crisis might put that move on hold because he has been impressive in recent games.
Arteta has used a back three for some time now and it will be interesting to see how he will set his team up this time.
I don’t know why we are always doomed with our defense, wen it starts ticking one gets injured,
When u want to move them they get injured,
Now the pressure for Saliba and Gabriel will be high bse they will be thrown to d deep end of the pool and either swim or drown
Not an ideal start foe our new defenders. I think Holding will start. It is not a problem anyway since Fulham will be very busy limiting the damage to trouble our defense.
This is the perfect fixture to start our new boys in a back 4. Start xhaka torreira And ceballos to give them a little extra cover.
Clean sheet, 3 away points and a few goals to kick off the campaign! COYFG!
If Artete deploys three at the back. Then in the absence of luiz, it could be
William Holding Gabriel
Or
Holding William Tierney
Or
Holding Gabriel William
Lets get the 3pts against Fulham. Mind you, no easy game in the league as anything can happen on the day of play
Blessing in disguise, never liked Luiz even when he did not use to play for us. Error and 4-5 games a season wonder kind of player. I never understood what Arsenal saw in him to sign him then give him an extension. He has cost us the most goals directly or indirectly. Gave away the most penalties by single player. it’s only the Arsenal fans who hold him in high regards, no other fan in world ever thought high of him. I would rather put our new defenders in for experience then see David Luiz.
Good riddance to bad rubbish