Francis Coquelin became Arsenal’s latest injury casualty yesterday as he limped off 14 minutes into the 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
SEE MORE: Santi Cazorla penalty miss video: Spaniard suffers more November pain as Arsenal mess up at West Brom
The Frenchman came out on the wrong side of a 50-50 with Baggies midfielder Claudio Yacob and soon had to be substituted with a knee problem.
Watch more brilliant snippets like this with fanatix’s FREE sports video news app.
His replacement Mikel Arteta joined the walking wounded in the second half, after scoring the own goal which sent Arsenal to defeat, but Arsene Wenger admitted that Coquelin’s injury is the greater concern.
SEE MORE: Mikel Arteta own goal video: Gooners rip captain for nightmare half hour (video)
Wenger is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: “We have two more injuries. One is a muscular problem that is a recurrence for Arteta. The other one for Coquelin is a knee problem, I don’t know how serious that is. We will know tomorrow.”
Coquelin is perhaps the one name that the Gunners could not afford to join an absentee list of Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky.
The 24-year-old has established himself as an indispensable figure in Arsenal’s midfield over the last 12 months and Wenger is now without a genuine holding midfielder for a key Champions League tie.
The Londoners host Dinamo Zagreb, who beat them 2-1 in the reverse fixture, on Tuesday knowing that only a victory will sustain their slim hopes of qualifying for the last 16 for a 17th straight season.
SEE ALSO:
Olivier Giroud goal video: Assist-king Ozil at it again for opening goal in Arsenal’s West Brom defeat
Diego Costa goal video: Chelsea striker ends drought as Fabregas partnership returns v Norwich
Memphis Depay goal video: Man U winger answers criticism with brilliant first-time finish v Watford
COMMENTS