Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that full back Nacho Monreal is set to miss the start of the season and while he didn’t confirm what the problem was it is believed that it is a back injury [disc] he was carrying before he took part in the Confederations Cup.

At the end of May, Spanish paper Marca admitted concern regarding Monreal who had been receiving treatment on a back problem which he had been suffering from for six months stating that he had even travelled to Barcelona to receive treatment. He was being monitored by the Spanish medical team for the duration of the Confederations Cup.

Speaking to the press, Wenger said

“He has had an injection and it looks like he will not be able to start the season. 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.”

With Thomas Vermaelen also injured this now leaves Arsene Wenger with a problem at left back as Kieran Gibbs is the only player he has in that position after Andre Santos was released. While the rumours that Monreal could be out until October have not been confirmed, the fact that the Spaniard has been suffering with the problem for six months points to it not being resolved quickly.

Laurent Koscielny missed Arsenal’s win over Nagoya Grampus 8 with an ankle injury while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also missed out with ‘niggles.’

[Thanks to @Suifay for the Marca link