What now for Wenger as Santos is ruled out for three months

Andre Santos has been ruled out of action for three months after sustaining an ankle injury against Olympiakos in the Champions League.

The £6 million summer signing from Fenerbahce, initially stated on Twitter that he would be sidelined for around three weeks after picking up the injury in Greece last week.

However, The Gunners released a statement yesterday about Santos’ injury, which read:

‘We can confirm that, following investigations and subsequent medical opinions by club specialists, left-back Andre Santos will have surgery to repair ligament damage in his right ankle sustained in the game against Olympiacos last week.

‘Andre will have surgery in Brazil this week and is expected to be out for around three months. Everyone at the club wishes him well.’

Santos’ absence will come as a huge blow to Arsene Wenger, who has no senior full-backs available to him at present. Kieran Gibbs is due back within a fortnight, while Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson are still recovering from their respective injuries.

So what are Wenger’s options?

Well, I think he has three available to him:

1. He continues to play Thomas Vermaelen at left-back, Johan Djourou on the right and Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the middle of the back four, until the fallen have recovered fully.

2. Arsene goes out in January and acquires a left back (on loan). This is probably unlikely to happen, but it’s still an option for the Frenchman to consider.

3. Wenger installs Ignasi Miquel at left-back, shifts Vermaelen back into the centre with Per and Kos goes back to right-back duty.

Out of the three options mentioned above, I would go with the third, simply because Djourou’s defending is shoddy.

I can honestly say that I have more faith in the young Miquel at left-back than the Swiss defender in general, and for that reason, and that reason alone, I would like to see the third option implemented until at least Gibbs is back healthy and ready for action.

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