Sead Kolasinac picked up an ankle ligament injury against Manchester City last weekend and he won’t return to full training until January.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019, in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Arsenal posted an injury update on Friday morning, confirming the ligament injury to Kolasinac. Kieran Tierney also had successful surgery this week, but he’ll undergo a rehabilitation schedule for the next three months.

As a result, Arsenal are low on left-backs and may have to give chances to left-winger Bukayo Saka or the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the position.

It’s far from ideal heading into a difficult and busy run of fixtures. Arsenal face both Chelsea and Manchester United in the games either side of the New Year. It’s bad enough facing one of them with a makeshift full-back, but both in four days is worrying.

In other injury news, Mesut Özil, Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin are all doubts for the Everton clash. Dani Ceballos will miss out, though he should return to training next week. Granit Xhaka is available again after his concussion.

This shouldn’t have a huge impact on the lineup. Arsenal have been dealing with the absence of most of these players for the last few games already.

The only likely change to our predicted lineup is Mesut Özil if he’s out. Perhaps Emile Smith Rowe could get his first Premier League start.