Hector Bellerin (calf) has been ruled out for a fortnight and with Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) and Dinos Mavropanos (groin) also unavailable this weekend, Unai Emery’s injury problems in defence show no sign of abating.
Emery also said in Friday’s presser that a third appearance in a week for Laurent Koscielny “will be a lot for him”, so the veteran defender may not be risked.
Sead Kolasinac (thigh) will have to be assessed ahead of the visit of Burnley, but Emery “thinks” the defender will be okay to feature, so his potential availability could mean that Nacho Monreal moves to centre-half.
Stephan Lichtsteiner could deputise at right full-back/wing-back in whatever system Emery rolls out – though Ainsley Maitland-Niles is an alternative on either flank.
Sokratis looks sure of a start in central defence, while Emery has used Granit Xhaka at centre-half in recent matches and may do so again this weekend if persisting with a three-man backline – though an overabundance of left-footers means that one of Xhaka or Monreal would have to play on their weaker side in such an eventuality.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) is ruled out for the weekend and with Mesut Ozil’s future uncertain (the German midfielder omitted from the Carabao Cup squad for “tactical” reasons), there is much doubt over who will line up in midfield/attack.
A rest could well be looming for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he played 90 minutes on Wednesday night, though Emery may decide to redeploy him as a supporting striker/left winger to accommodate a start for Alexandre Lacazette instead.
Alex Iwobi played less than an hour in midweek and may get the nod in one of the attacking midfield positions, though Aaron Ramsey is another option.
Eddie Nketiah may see minutes over Christmas though a start might be a tall order for the youngster against the Clarets.
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