Unai Emery will be looking to formulate a new defensive plan ahead of another crucial fixture against fellow Londoners, Chelsea, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles out injured and Nacho Monreal’s return date still unclear, according to the Evening Standard.
Emery swapped Maitland-Niles from his recent right-back position to the opposite flank against Manchester City to cover for injuries, but the youngster himself was forced off against the Premier League champions.
Overworked and out of position, the move got the better of the 20-year-old who limped off the pitch following a collision with former Spurs man Kyle Walker.
Emery must quickly fill the gap at left-back, with Sead Kolasinac expected to be out till October bearing his own knee injury, and with Spanish international Monreal on the cusp of starting, there are still questions whether he will match fit.
However, Unai is hopeful that Nacho Monreal can open his campaign for the season against Chelsea, following his first training session back at London Colney on Saturday from a knee injury.
Nacho started working with the group yesterday, maybe he can arrive for the next match.
With no further updates on the possibility of Monreal’s services, the Gunners could call on 34-year-old right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner to start at left-back again after replacing Maitland-Niles against Manchester City.
