Arsenal have reportedly blocked Carl Jenkinson from leaving the club on loan during this transfer window due to the defensive injuries at the club.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Carl Jenkinson of Arsenal controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Blackpool at Emirates Stadium on October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Carl Jenkinson of Arsenal controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Blackpool at Emirates Stadium on October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

No-one is quite sure how it happened, but Carl Jenkinson will soon be the only part of Arsenal’s British core still at the club.

That’s unlikely to last beyond the summer when his contract expires but, for now, fortune has thrown him one last chance to gather up some more minutes for the club he loves like the rest of us.

We received the bad news on Sunday that Sokratis would be out until the end of February with his ankle problem.

Laurent Koscielny does not seem to have a broken jaw, at least not one that is showing up just yet, but the club are continuing to monitor him and reports in France claim he could be set for surgery regardless. Should he undergo surgery, he is facing up to two months out.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal is given treatment during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal is given treatment during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Whatever the actual problem with his jaw, it’s unlikely we will see him for some time and that leaves Arsenal with something of a problem at the back.

One of the options for the club, who have no money to buy replacements, was to recall Krystian Bielik from Charlton who has impressed there this season. I say ‘was’ because they could only do that until January 22, three days before the United game.

You can understand why Charlton would ask for that sort of restriction. Had Arsenal decided they wanted to bring the 21-year-old back to the club, the Addicks would have needed time to find a replacement.

Arsenal could also make an emergency move for Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, after suffering a double injury blow in Friday’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United, according to a report this weekend.