Arsenal face a nervous wait for news on the injury to full-back Carl Jenkinson, as yet another defensive injury crisis looms.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed that the former Charlton right-back has a knee problem, after he had to be replaced by Johan Djourou in the 62nd minute of last night’s Champions League game in Marseille.
Wenger said after the game: ‘It is a knee injury and no-one knows what he has.
‘He overstretched his knee. We have to check that tomorrow.’
The Frenchman will be desperately hoping that Jenkinson’s injury is not too serious, as the 19-year-old is currently his only fit right-back.
First choice Bacary Sagna broke his leg in the recent north London derby against Tottenham and will not return until the new year.
Wenger will be forced to press one of his centre-backs into cover at full-back if Jenkinson does not recover in time for Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Stoke.
However, Djourou has only just returned from injury himself, while Thomas Vermaelen is out with an ongoing Achilles problem.
Wenger will be hoping that injury problems in defence do not undermine the gradual improvements being made by his squad, which continued with a last-gasp 1-0 victory in France last night.
‘We have made a little step forward but we have to be humble. We are a team who has to continue to grow,’ he said.
‘This result will help our confidence. If you look back at the last five or six games, you will see only one defeat. We are slowly getting there.’
