While the Arsenal injury problems continue to bite and give Arsene Wenger a real selection headache every time the manager prepares for a game, the problem may not be so extreme this time. At least the Gunners have a week off to rest, recuperate and recharge the batteries before heading to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday.
As well as Arsenal having the rare situation of being fresher than our opponents, with Liverpool going to Bournemouth tomorrow in the League cup, the Frenchman does actually have some decent options in his defence, although the France international centre back Laurent Koscielny is unfortunately not one of them.
Because of the growing confidence and form of our young Spanish right back Hector Bellerin, Wenger has the option of using either Calum Chambers or Mathieu Debuchy alongside Per Mertesacker in central defence. Both players have proved they can perform there but they bring different things to the table.
The former Saints man has greater height and strength and is perhaps more natural in that position, but Debuchy has bags of experience, a real calm head under pressure and still has good pace, aerial ability and reading of the game. He has only one game at centre back though, whereas Chambers has quite few more, both at Arsenal and his former club.
There is also a third option if Monreal is passed fit as expected. The Spaniard left back was growing into the role and is naturally left footed so would give balance to the back four alongside our big German.
It is hard to decide, especially as Brendan Rodgers could play big Rickie Lambert, tricky Raheem Sterling or the unpredictable Mario Balotelli up front. How would you line up the Arsenal back four at Anfield?