The injury concerns look to pile on for Arsene Wenger's side as news broke that their star French defender Laurent Koscielny has picked up an achilles injury whilst with the French national team.
The 29-year-old Gunner center-back has been released by the national side due to precautionary measures ahead of Les Blues' international friendly clash with fellow European nation Portugal, and will now return back to London to undergo further tests.
However, according to France Football (per Arse Blog), the issue with Koscielny's fitness may be deeper as he is suffering of "chronic tendinitis of both Achilles tendons".
Koscielny released by the French national tam due to an achilles injury
Look away Gooners - Now Laurent Koscielny has been released by France due to an achilles injury (via @Matt_Barlow_DM) pic.twitter.com/c27wNXgfNb
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) October 9, 2014
Laurent Koscielny has been released from international duty by France due to an achilles problem. Just precautionary. pic.twitter.com/oJsr5x3bMN
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 9, 2014
More injury news for Arsenal - Laurent Koscielny has been released from France duty due to an achilles problem. #AFC pic.twitter.com/Dbt8cVTxZH
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) October 9, 2014
The north London club will be praying for positive news as the FA Cup holders are already experiencing midfield and defensive injury crisis.
A day after Mesut Ozil was ruled out for four months due to a knee injury, Arsenal are already running short of defensive cover after Mathieu Debuchy was sidelined for three months due to an ankle injury that he picked up in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City, back in mid-September.
Calum Chambers, the 19-year-old promising English defender capable of playing as both full-back and center-half at the Emirates Stadium, who initially partnered with Koscielny in their 3-0 Community Shield triumph, has been deployed at right-back in Debuchy's absence, but has left Wenger bare of center-backs.
Despite being linked with the likes of Kostas Manolas, Chris Smalling, and Matija Nastasic, the long-serving Frenchman failed to find a replacement for former captain Thomas Vermaelen, who was sold to La Liga giants Barcelona for £15m.
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