Nacho Monreal faces a race to be fit for Arsenal’s Europa League round of 16 first leg tie in Milan next week, Arsene Wenger has revealed.
The Spanish defender, a shining light for Arsenal amid the gloom of recent weeks, was forced off 26 minutes into the first half of Sunday’s 3-0 EFL Cup Final defeat against Manchester City at Wembley.
Monreal is certain to miss the rematch against City at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday as well as the Gunners trip to Brighton on Sunday.
The 32-year-old is also a doubt for the following two games, away to AC Milan and at home to Watford in the Premier League, as he battles to overcome a back injury.
"He is out for the two games this weekend," Wenger said during his press conference. "He might be out for two more - Milan and maybe one more.
“He has got an inflamed back.
"The rest [of the squad], everybody is fit [barring longer-term absentees Alexandre Lacazette and Santi Cazorla]."
The Spaniard has been plagued by niggling injuries in recent months. Since December 22 he has been forced off having played 45 minutes or fewer on four separate occasions.
Monreal’s replacement will depend on the system Wenger chooses to deploy in the upcoming games. When playing a back three the Arsenal manager has shown a willingness to use summer signing Sead Kolasinac as a left wing-back but has expressed doubts over the Bosnian’s fit in a four-man defence.
