Arsenal defensive duo Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac have both missed training ahead of Thursday’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Gunners pairing were both absent from the Wednesday morning session after complaining about tight hamstrings the day before the Europa League game.
Evening Standard journalist Simon Collings confirmed the news on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday morning, with Bellerin having completed 83 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Southampton.
#afc Bellerin and Kolasinac both not training this morning due to tight hamstrings. pic.twitter.com/bga9NTFs2j
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) November 27, 2019
Bosnian international Kolasinac missed the game against the Saints at the Emirates Stadium, a problem that has continued into the week in North London.
Unai Emery did start Kieran Tierney at left-wing back in that draw, and also had Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the bench – the youngster having started the season in Bellerin’s place.
Can Arsenal cover their potential absentees?
As everyone knows in football, as soon as a potential hamstring injury is brought to light, everyone expects the worst.
Both Bellerin and Kolasinac will not want to risk being ruled out for longer than they need to be at the Emirates Stadium, and will most likely not be risked for the clash against the Germans on Thursday evening.
Emery has the options available to him to cover his potential losses, and he has given the chance to his youngsters to start in the European competition so far this season so Thursday should be no different.
Maitland-Niles and Tierney should both continue at full-back, and they will still provide the attacking threat that the likes of Bellerin deliver on a weekly basis with his pace.
The English youngster has already delivered a couple of assists in the Premier League this season, and Emery will expect him to bomb forward at every given opportunity.
It is best to approach these problems with caution, and with two replacements available, it is likely that Bellerin and Kolasinac will sit out the game, in the hope that they could return for the trip to Norwich on Sunday.
