Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will step up his efforts to sign a centre-back this month after losing Mathieu Debuchy to a dislocated shoulder during the 3-0 victory over Stoke.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will step up his efforts to sign a centre-back this month after losing Mathieu Debuchy to a dislocated shoulder during the 3-0 victory over Stoke.
Wenger insists a central defender was already his priority but the need to strengthen his defensive options was reinforced by the loss of France international Debuchy and the continuing absence of England left-back Kieran Gibbs.
Wenger was unable to say how long right-back Debuchy would be out for following his collision with the pitchside hoardings at the Emirates Stadium after a challenge by Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic on Sunday.
But with Gibbs still suffering from an ankle injury, the Gunners squad is once again getting stretched.
“The only negative today is we lost another defender, an experienced defender, with a dislocated shoulder. And that gives us a problem because at the back on the experience front, we are already short,” Wenger said.
“With a dislocated shoulder you need a diagnosis from a specialist and we don’t know yet but he will certainly not play next week. And Gibbs’ ankle is still inflamed. He had a test and it didn’t work.
“I was in the market anyway. But what is for sure, not having Gibbs and Debuchy affects us.”
