Arsenal Facing Selection Headache With Trio Ruled Out Of Tottenham Showdown

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is facing something of a selection headache with three of his starting eleven set to miss Wednesday’s trip to Tottenham.

The Gunners head to the home of their North London rivals next week for their League Cup 3rd round clash but they’ll be without Gabriel, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin.

Gabriel was sent off during Arsenal’s controversial 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon following a clash with Diego Costa just before half time.

Wenger’s men finished the game with just nine-men after Cazorla was also dismissed late on after picking up a second booking following a foul on Cesc Fabregas.

Both will now be suspended for the Spurs game and to make matters worse, Wenger has now confirmed that Coquelin will also miss the trip to White Hart Lane after being forced off yesterday with a knee injury.

The French international landed awkwardly mid-way through the first half and while he was able to make it until half-time, he failed to appear after the break and now it looks like he’s been ruled out of the Spurs game.

When quizzed about Coquelin’s injury, the Arsenal boss told reporters it’s just a ‘little’ knee problem but it will be enough to rule him out of the Tottenham clash, although he isn’t sure yet just how long the midfielder will be sidelined for.

“It is a little knee injury, ” Wenger told the Mirror.

“I don’t know how long it will be – certainly not for midweek. I don’t know yet how long.”

Mikel Arteta is expected to come in to deputise for Coquelin on Wednesday night while Aaron Ramsey may move into the middle to start alongside the Spaniard in the absence of Cazorla.

However, we’ll have to see who replaces Gabriel at the back. Per Mertesacker remains a doubt after failing to make the squad against Chelsea due to his on-going recovery from a virus that’s already kept him out for a month.

Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck are all long-term injury concerns for Arsenal so they’ll be going into the derby with a depleted squad.