Summer suffering! Arsenal to start Premier League season with just FOUR fit defenders after Sagna picks up international injury



As if the summer couldn’t get any worse for Arsenal, now Bacary Sagna has added to Arsene Wenger’s woes.



The France international picked up an ankle injury against Belgium on Wednesday night and is rated as doubtful for the season opener against Aston Villa on Saturday.



It leaves the Gunners facing a defensive crisis, with Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal already sidelined through injury.

Crisis: Bacary Sagna completed 90 minutes for France against Belgium, but was seen hobbling after the game

Spanish spine: Mikel Arteta (left) and Santi Cazorla (right) are also doubtful for the Aston Villa opener

Your guide to Arsenal's season

Read Sportsmail's club guide for Arsenal here , featuring fixtures, transfers, and players to look out for this season.

There could also be a problem in midfield for the French boss, as he admitted Spanish pair Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta were both doubts for the match at the Emirates.

'Cazorla played almost a full game. He only lands in London tonight [Thursday], so we will see how he is tomorrow.



'Mikel has a slight thigh problem. We have to check that. I don't know if he will be out for the weekend. He has a scan today.'

Arteta, who was due to captain the side in Vermaelen’s absence, would be a certain starter for the Gunners this weekend.

Too much, too soon? Such is the shortage of players, a lot may rest on the shoulders of Jack Wilshere

Transfer wrangle: Wenger is still hoping to lure Liverpool's Luis Suarez to the Emirates Stadium

It means that Wenger may have to rely on Jack Wilshere after Aaron Ramsey pulled out of the Wales squad.



Gunners fans have endured a frustrating summer so far, missing out on transfer targets Stevan Jovetic and Gonzalo Higuain, while the proposed move of Luis Suarez looks set to drag on until September 2.