Calum Chambers: Defender doubtful for Gunners

Arsenal are facing a defensive crisis ahead of their Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Tuesday evening.

Boss Arsene Wenger has only three fully fit first-team defenders available for the Gunners’ first Group D game.

First-choice centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are set to feature against the Bundesliga side along with left-back Kieran Gibbs.

However, Calum Chambers, who can play at centre-back and full-back, is suffering with tonsillitis, while Nacho Monreal did not travel with the squad due to a back problem.

Arsene Wenger may have to turn to 19 year old Hector Bellerin in Arsenal’s opening Champions League game against Dortmund. Arsene Wenger may have to turn to 19 year old Hector Bellerin in Arsenal’s opening Champions League game against Dortmund.

Chambers had been pencilled in to cover for right-back Mathieu Debuchy, who was already suspended but could now be facing a lengthy lay-off after spraining his ankle during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Saturday.

If Chambers misses out, Wenger could turn to Hector Bellerin.

The 19-year-old Spaniard is the fastest member of the Arsenal squad and broke Theo Walcott's 40-metre sprint record in the summer.

Wenger said: "The Debuchy injury puts us a little bit in a position where we do not want more and hopefully we have good news after his scan today and he will be back soon.

"(Nacho) Monreal did not travel and we have a little problem with Chambers but he should be alright and we have, as well, Bellerin who I think now is ready to play.

"He is a boy with personality, he is not fazed by pressure and that's a very important quality when you are a young boy and playing at a big club.

"His transitional game is fantastic, he is very quick and his final ball is good as well. He lacks a bit of experience still as a defender but he is very dangerous going forward."

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny is disappointed by the loss of Debuchy, but is happy to play behind a rejigged defence.

"It's very disappointing to lose such an important player," he said. "He's had a very strong start to the season and is a very experienced right-back. Hopefully he'll be back as soon as possible.

"It doesn't matter which defenders play in front of me because we're used to communicating in training, so it's not an issue."

Watch Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal live on Sky Sports 5 at 7.45pm on Tuesday.