Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is in a bit of a pickle in the full-back positions heading into Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are certain to be without Martin Odegaard (ankle), Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) for the visit of the Saints, and the game is also expected to come too soon for Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), despite his return to training.
Gooners are also waiting with bated breath to hear the latest on Ben White, who has now been absent for three games with a groin injury, while Jurrien Timber came off at half time against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League with a muscular concern.
Arteta suggested that there was a precautionary element to Timber's change in that 2-0 win, but the visit of the winless Saints seems like a prime opportunity to give the overworked Dutchman a well-earned rest.
Instead, the versatile Riccardo Calafiori could switch flanks and start on the right-hand side, allowing the out-of-favour Jakub Kiwior to come in for his first league start of the season on the left-hand side.
Arsenal did receive some positive injury news in midweek with the debut of Mikel Merino after his shoulder fracture, but Thomas Partey and Declan Rice should hold the fort for the time being as the Spaniard gets up to speed with the rest of his teammates.
Slightly ahead of them, Kai Havertz is out to score for the fifth Premier League home game running - and the seventh in all tournaments - and the German should link arms with the unchanged attacking trident of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli once more.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Havertz, Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
> Click here to see how Southampton could line up for this clash
No Data Analysis info
