Arsenal: 'Problem' for Arteta after big setback for £28.8m star

Mikel Arteta is unsure who should fill the void at left-back for Arsenal moving forward, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Gunners boss is having to deal with the absence of first choice Kieren Tierney, while he overlooked Nuno Tavares for the defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

It’s been a wretched couple of weeks for the North London outfit since the return of Premier League football after the international break.

Not only have Arteta’s side suffered defeats to Crystal Palace and Brighton, which have seriously damaged their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, but the injuries are quickly mounting up for the Gunners.

Firstly, Tierney has been ruled out for the rest of the season having undergone knee surgery following an injury sustained while playing for Scotland, while Thomas Partey hobbled off against Palace last Monday.

Tierney’s injury allowed Tavares to make his first Premier League start since December at Selhurst Park, but he was hauled off at the break following a tricky first half performance.

As a result, Granit Xhaka was picked to start there against Brighton, despite Tavares being the only recognised left-back in Arteta’s squad.

Therefore, Brown reckons that Arteta is still unsure who should replace Tierney for the remainder of the season.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “That is a problem for Arsenal. I’m not even sure Arteta knows who should fill that spot.

“He took Tavares off against Palace and put Xhaka back there, a makeshift left-back. He’s tried Cedric Soares on that side, neither of those two are ideal, but they are capable of doing a job.”

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According to WhoScored, Tavares was Arsenal’s ninth-worst player against Crystal Palace,