Arsene Wenger has admitted that Nacho Monreal will miss the start of the season, having picked up an injury somewhere between the end of last season and now.

The ex-Malaga man went away on the Confederations Crap with Spain, which seems the most likely place for him to have knackered himself, but let’s not forget Spanish keeper Canizares who missed the World Cup when he dropped a bottle of aftershave on his foot.

The Arsenal manager confirmed Monreal’s problem and admitted it leaves him short of options at left back.

“He has had an injection and it looks like he will not be able to start the season,” he said. “We have lost one left back, and that’s the position where we’re a bit exposed at the moment because Vermaelen can play there, he’s injured. Monreal plays there, he’s injured.

“We’ve only Kieran at the moment who can play there.”

And given Gibbs propensity for injury throughout his short career it poses something of a problem for Wenger. Andre Santos was released to Flamengo during the week, and highly rated youngster Jernade Meade let his contract run out, seeing no way past Gibbs and Monreal.

With a shortage of centre-halves too, only Per Mertesacker is fit at this point, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if a versatile, left footed defender shot straight to the top of Arsenal’s shopping list.

Shopping list, heh, we slay us.