Arsenal suffer injury blow ahead of Liverpool game as defender carried off on international duty



Arsenal have been hit by yet another injury blow, with Sead Kolasinac having picked up what looks like a painful problem on international duty.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina defender started for his country on Saturday afternoon in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Finland – a clash that was key to their hopes of booking a place at the tournament.

He only lasted just under 40 minutes though, having been on the end of what was an awful tackle by Finnish defender Jukka Raitala.

Kolasinac’s ankle appeared to buckle underneath him in the process of the challenge and he then had to be carried from the field by medical staff, with ice compressed around the potential injury.

Raitala was sent off as a result of the challenge, although that may not be too much of a consolation to Kolasinac, who could now be out for an extended period of time.

The defender, who was on-loan at Schalke 04 last term, has made four appearances so far for the Gunners this season, with just one start in the Premier League.

Should he be restricted to the sidelines for some time, then he will join the already-injured contingent at the Emirates Stadium that includes the likes of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.

Fortunately, his absence might not be felt too severely by Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners being well stocked at left-back.

Kieran Tierney has regularly been first choice in north London since his move from Celtic but has been usurped by Nuno Tavares in recent weeks, with the young defender having impressed after his summer arrival from Benfica.

More news is expected on Kolasinac’s fitness ahead of his country’s clash with Ukraine on Tuesday evening as their World Cup qualifying campaign comes to an end.





Source link