Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the left-back Nacho Monreal will miss the start of the upcoming season after damaging a disc in his back.
The 27-year-old, who joined Arsenal in January this year for £8.5 million from Malaga, is on an extended break after being a part of Spain’s Confederations Cup campaign, thereby missing the club’s pre-season tour of Japan.
Wenger said: “Monreal has had an injection and it looks like he will miss the start of the season and of course we have lost one left back and that’s a position where we are a bit exposed.
“Vermaelen can play there, he is injured. Monreal can play there, he is injured. At the moment we only have Kieran Gibbs who can play at left back.”
Currently, Gunners’ defence looks battered with injuries to key defenders, Thomas Vermaelen (back trouble), Monreal, Laurent Koscielny(ankle injury) and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (lower back problem), who are all expected to miss the start of the season.
Source: Daily Mirror