Arsenal have another defensive injury concern ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton.
The Gunners continued their flawless start to the new season with convincing 4-2 Carabao Cup third round win over Ipswich Town.
Teenage sensation Max Dowman scored twice with Mikel Arteta, who made nine changes to the team which beat Sunderland last weekend, demonstrating the strength of his squad.
That said, the Arsenal boss is running short of defensive options ahead of the visit to the Amex Stadium to face the in-form Seagulls.
No return date has been set for William Saliba who suffered a back injury during the World Cup, while Cristhian Mosquera has missed the last four matches with the muscle strain he picked in a victory over Aston Villa.
Ben White was forced off at half-time at the Stadium of Light and replaced by Jurrien Timber who is only just back after a long-term absence and was given the night off at Portman Road.
Piero Hincapie, meanwhile, was expected to start against the Tractor Boys but the Ecuador international didn’t even make the bench at Portman Road which meant a start at left-back for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Arteta hinted several players were given the night off due to fatigue, saying: ‘With some players, they were carrying some fatigue, some real issues, that we have to look after.
‘There are other players available that are fresh and in a better condition to play.’
According to Football.London, however, Hincapie is yet another Arsenal defender to have suffered a muscular injury and it remains to be seen whether or not he makes the squad for the game at Brighton.
A four-goal display did at least suggest Arteta has more attacking firepower at disposal than had been assumed, with Dowman a viable option in the Premier League.
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‘Everything is possible,’ said Arteta when asked if the 16-year-old attacker could become a permanent fixture in his team. ‘The probability probably is extremely low, because you don’t see the players with the capacity to handle just the physicality of the game.
‘Not only that, but the demands that you have to put your bodies through in the week to be able to be in a good condition to compete, the amount of information, the challenges that you have to face.
‘But he’s doing it, and he’s doing it really well every time he’s got a chance.’