Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has suggested the club may have to dip into the transfer market in January to ease their injury crisis.
Despite heavy investment in the summer to increase the size of the squad, the Gunners are almost down to the bare bones in the defensive department.
Jurrien Timber became the latest Arsenal defender to be struck down by injury as a kick suffered in the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend ruled him out of Wednesday night’s Champions League win over Atalanta.
Timber had been filling in as a centre-back with William Saliba, Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera all sidelined.
While Saliba and Gabriel are expected to return before the end of the year, Mikel Arteta has confirmed Mosquera is facing weeks in the treatment with an ankle injury, thus leaving Arsenal short of central defenders heading into a busy period.
Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are also central defensive options, but Campbell, speaking exclusively to Paddy Power, believes first team coach Gabriel Heinze has a job on his hands.
“Gabriel Heinze needs to work with the other defenders a little bit more,” Campbell said. “You have four centre-halves. Do you need a fifth one? Four should be enough. They need to do more scenario-based work in case they have to play together longer.
“You have to get used to the relentless concentration and Gabriel Heinze has to work on that with those guys. Who knows?”
With the transfer window set to open is less than a month, Campbell has urged his former club to keep their options open for an experienced central defender.
He added: “Maybe an older centre-half who wants a six-month contract, something might happen at the back-end of January, or a loan that makes sense. Keep your options open.”
Campbell did concede that Arsenal are suffering with Saliba and Gabriel being injured at the same time.
“You can't afford both of them out, you need at least one fit and playing now,” he insists. “The other centre-backs are all top players, but they're not Saliba and Gabriel.
“Arsenal can lose two players elsewhere on the pitch but in defence, they miss Saliba and Gabriel's experience, knowledge and cool heads for the big moments.”
