Arsenal's defensive suffering worsens after defensive duo injury

By Mark Jones

LONDON (Reuters) – Arsenal face a defensive crisis after a fractured jaw of captain Laurent Coussellini and an ankle injury to Socrates Papastathopoulos in the defeat against Manchester United in the fourth round of the Champions League on Friday.

Coach Unai Emery was already suffering a 3-1 defeat against United after the end of season Hector Blirin and Rob Holding after being cut the cruciate ligaments on Sunday and December respectively.

"I think Socrates' injury is not serious – it's an ankle problem and Laurent Cosellini will be going to the hospital for tests," Emery said.

"Maybe it's broken here and I hope it's not, but we have to wait," he says showing his jaw.

According to Emery, these injuries are one of the reasons for the loss against United, who won all eight games against coach Ole Gunnar Solchar.

The visitors went through Alexis Sanchez, former Arsenal striker and Jesse Lenggard, before Pierre-Imrik Obamyang reduced the gap at the end of the first half.

"I think that with a delay of 2-1, we had a chance to equalize or win, but the situation after the injuries, including the second that I was offered by Kuselini, did not help us.

"Two wounds changed our destiny."

Substitute Anthony Marcial took the win for United with a third goal late after a counter-attack at Emirates Stadium.

(Reuters)