Mikel Arteta will be without Kieran Tierney for the rest of the season whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu will be unavailable for at least the next two games and join full training after the trip to Southampton. Thomas Partey is to be assessed ahead of the weekend, but the vagueness of the update will not encourage Arsenal supporters.
The defeat to Crystal Palace yesterday was arguably the second worst thing about the awful night. The news of the Arsenal squad being depleted by the absence of Tierney followed by Partey’s issue is a huge blow.
Especially considering that Nuno Tavares who replaced Tierney was very poor in his stead. Cedric Soares has deputised for a number of weeks in Tomiyasu’s stead; however, the Japanese international’s disciplined style would have been the perfect foil to Tavares’ defensive deficiencies.
