Arsenal have been handed a fresh injury blow after Riccardo Calafiori was injured in the warm-up before their Premier League clash with Brighton.
Calafiori was initially named in the team but the Italian had to be replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly after feeling something during the warm-up.
His injury came after Jurrien Timber was ruled out of the Brighton and deepens the defensive injury crisis facing Arsenal.
Gabriel was back on the bench against Brighton after nine games out in some good news for the Gunners, while Piero Hincapie was fit to start at centre-back alongside William Saliba.
But injury problems continue to mount for Mikel Arteta ahead of a key run of games in the title race.
With Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera also sidelined because of injury, Declan Rice started at right-back against Brighton.
Calafiori has been hit by several injury problems since joining Arsenal and he has managed to stay fit this season and has established himself as the first-choice left-back.
Arteta has revealed Timber suffered an injury.
“We missed him because in the last part of the game he felt something and he could not carry on so he's out,” said the Arsenal boss.
Arteta is likely to provide an update on Calafiori after the Brighton game.
After the Brighton game, Arsenal host Aston Villa on Tuesday before an away games at Bournemouth in the New Year. The Gunners then face Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 8.
