Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could throw young defender Lino Sousa in at the deep end as the Gunners attempt to cope without first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney.
Scotland international Tierney missed the defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday night, and could miss the remainder of the season as he goes in for surgery. Arteta admitted he is "not positive" about being able to call on the former Celtic man again this term, with a knee injury sustained during the international break also threatening the player's involvement in Scotland's upcoming World Cup play-off.
Nuno Tavares deputised at left-back at Selhurst Park - his first start since being hooked in the first half of the FA Cup third round defeat at Nottingham Forest - and failed to stake his claim for more regular minutes. Arteta doesn't have too many options at his disposal, but young talent Sousa could be one of them.
