Arsenal will begin the new Premier League season without the services of Spain international Nacho Monreal, due to injury.
The defender, who was part of the Spain squad which finished as runners-up at the Confederations Cup, has been suffering from a back problem.
The 27-year-old joined the Gunners in a £8.5million from Malaga in January and went on to make 11 appearances for the north London side last term.
Monreal was given an extended break after playing a part in Spain’s Confederations Cup campaign, which has seen the defender miss the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Japan.
But during that time off, Monreal has damaged his back and, although Arsene Wenger does not know what caused the injury, he now expects the former Malaga man to miss the start of the Premier League season.
According to Daily Mail, Wenger said :
He has had an injection and it looks like he will not be able to start the season.
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We have lost one left back, and that’s the position where we’re a bit exposed at the moment because Vermaelen can play there, he’s injured. Monreal plays there, he’s injured.
We’ve only Kieran at the moment who can play there.
The news comes as a blow to Wenger, who now only has Kieran Gibbs available at left-back as the versatile Thomas Vermaelen is also struggling with injury. Vermaelen is expected to miss the next three months with his own back troubles, while Koscielny has injured his ankle.
Arsene Wenger has been handed a much needed defensive injury boost with the news Laurent Koscielny will not be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
And given Gibbs propensity for injury throughout his short career it poses something of a problem for Wenger. Andre Santos was released to Flamengo during the week, and highly rated youngster Jernade Meade let his contract run out, seeing no way past Gibbs and Monreal.
Monreal made 11 appearances for Arsenal after moving from Malaga in January. He scored a goal and had 2 assists. He averaged 2.6 tackles a game. He made an average of of 2.3 interceptions a game. He averaged 45 passes a game. His passing Accuracy was 84%.
Nacho Monreal arrived in circumstances where he hardly could have been more welcomed by Arsenal fans Although it took some time for him to get up to speed in the Arsenal defense, but after that he was generally solid and even scoring a vital goal against Swansea.
With Monreal injured and no real backup in that position Arsene Wenger will be forced to look into the market for a left back and also Center back is needed due to the absence of Vermaelen.
Any comments Gunners?
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