Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has received further injury headaches after Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud both picked up problems against Bournemouth.
Debuchy made his first start for the Gunners in over a year on Sunday, but lasted just 15 minutes before having to be replaced.
The frustration and heartbreak was etched all over the Frenchman’s face as he departed the pitch, and Wenger has now conceded that it looks like a hamstring strain that will keep him sidelined for a significant period of time again.
“He thinks it’s a severe one,” Wenger said, as reported by ESPN FC. “I have to speak to the medical people. You can only assess it really after 48 hours, you have to let it bleed.
“Usually they have an MRI 48 hours later when the bleeding is over to see how big the damage is.”
Given Hector Bellerin’s absence through injury and the unconvincing displays from Carl Jenkinson in his place in the last few games, Debuchy could potentially have had a big role to play over the next few weeks.
However, Wenger now has a big headache as to who to play at right-back, with Gabriel being preferred to play out of his natural position against the Cherries after replacing Debuchy.
Meanwhile, the Gunners could also be without another Frenchman, although Wenger sounded a bit more positive about a possible setback for Olivier Giroud.
The 30-year-old came off the bench to register an assist for the third Arsenal goal, but also tweaked his hamstring and has provided Wenger with another potential injury headache.
“We have to see how big the damage is,” Wenger said. “On his first movement, he told me he felt a twitch at the back of his hamstring, and let’s see. I hope it’s not too bad because he told me after that when he sprinted he didn’t feel anything.”
It remains to be seen who will now fill in for Bellerin until his return with Wenger adding that Francis Coquelin is also an option there, while Giroud will hope to be fit in time for the weekend with Arsenal likely to rotate and make changes for the EFL Cup clash with Southampton on Wednesday night.