Arsenal Star To Miss Tottenham & Liverpool Games After Emery Confirms Injury Blow

Arsenal have been dealt a fresh injury blow with Hector Bellerin set to miss the upcoming games against Tottenham and Liverpool after picking up a knock on Sunday.

Bellerin started for the Gunners against Southampton yesterday afternoon but the Spanish international went down clutching his lower leg during the closing stages of the first half shortly after Danny Ings had restored the hosts lead with his second header of the game.

Unai Emery was forced to withdraw Bellerin at the break with striker Alexandre Lacazette introduced as the Arsenal manager switched formation to try and get the north Londoners back in the game.

It didn’t work as Charlie Austin headed home the winner in the 85th minute to consign Arsenal to their first defeat in 23 matches and Emery admitted after the game that he’s likely to be without Bellerin over the festive period.

Speaking to reporters after the match at St Mary’s, the Spanish coach said the 23-year-old’s injury is ‘small’ but still expects the right-back to be ruled out for ‘some weeks’.

With Sead Kolasinac missing Sunday’s game with a thigh problem, Shkodran Mustafi struggling with a hamstring injury and Rob Holding out for the season following knee surgery, the injuries are pilling up in defence for Arsenal.

Emery told Arsenal.com:

“We are going to wait tomorrow and Tuesday, and Wednesday we are going play, and then Saturday also,”

“We need every player. Bellerin has a small injury – he is going to be some weeks off I think.

“Sokratis is coming back and we will see how Mustafi and Kolasinac are, and it is good news Koscielny can be with us for the next matches. It is not a good result but it was important for us [to have them back].”

We’ll have to wait for an update over the coming days to find out exactly how long Bellerin will be out for but even a two-week lay off will see the pacey full-back miss Arsenal’s next five fixtures.

The Gunners entertain Tottenham on Wednesday night in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup before facing league games with Burnley and Brighton either side of Christmas. Arsenal then take on Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield before welcoming Fulham to the Emirates on New Year’s Day.

Bellerin looks set to miss all those fixtures which will be a huge blow to Arsenal and Emery must now find a solution in the right wing-back position with Stephan Lichtsteiner and Ainsley Maitland-Niles the most likely options.