Rob Holding was named in the starting lineup against Manchester City but picked up a hamstring problem in the warmup.

Rob Holding was expected to start alongside Gabriel at the Etihad on Saturday but the centreback picked up a hamstring problem in the pre-match warm-up. He was replaced in the starting lineup by David Luiz.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta was asked about the problem but, as usual with these things, it will probably take a day or two for the club to make an accurate assessment.

“We don’t know [how bad it is],” said Arteta when asked about Holding’s situation.

“But it was bad enough to make the decision to get Rob out of the game and to get David in.

“David was really focused, he came on and I think he had a really good game.

“Yes, he felt something in the warm-up and we had to make the decision to get him [out], but thanks God David was very ready to play and I think that he had a really good game.”

The good news is that it appears he may well have been withdrawn as a precaution with Arsenal saying it was a ‘tight’ hamstring.

Arsenal’s next match is on Thursday when the Europa League gets under way against Rapid Vienna. I would be very surprised to see Holding included in the squad but you never know…