Arsenal’s injury crisis deepened as both Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis were forced off during the Gunners’ 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round.
Unai Emery’s defence was already threadbare after Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding both suffered season-ending ACL injuries.
Sokratis was withdrawn in the first half at the Emirates after suffering an injury to his ankle, while Koscielny was accidentally kicked in the jaw by Romelu Lukaku as the pair collided after challenging for a header.
Asked how bad fears were over the pair after the game, Emery said:
“I think this is not a big injury to Sokratis, it is his ankle, and Laurent Koscielny is going to the hospital to do the analysis.”
“Maybe he has broken here. I hope not, but we have to wait.”
Arsenal made a quick start to the FA Cup clash, but were caught on the break by goals from former Gunner Alexis Sanchez and then Jesse Lingard three minutes later.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised just before half time but Anthony Martial caught the Gunners on the break midway throught the second half to wrap up the win.
Asked if the injuries had an impact on the eventual 3-1 loss, Emery continued:
“At 1-2 I think we were in this moment with the possibility to draw or to take the possibility to win today,” Emery said. “But I think these injuries, above all the second injury with Koscielny, didn’t help us.
“Two injuries change a lot our possibilities.”
