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Arsenal will not rush into signing a replacement for right-back Hector Bellerin, according to the London Evening Standard.
The Gunners defender appeared to sustain a ligament injury during the 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday, with the club fearing he may miss the remainder of the season.
What’s the word?
Bellerin was stretchered off during the game against the Blues, and the Spaniard faces nine months out if he has sustained the same anterior cruciate ligament injury that Rob Holding suffered earlier this season.
Nevertheless, the club do not intend to dip into the transfer market to replace the 23-year-old.
Utility man Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be entrusted with the position, while Stephan Lichtsteiner is another option for Unai Emery.
The Standard also claim that the Gunners could now block the departure of Carl Jenkinson, who had previously been made available for transfer.
Bellerin was making his first start for the Gunners since December, when Arsenal lost 3-2 to Southampton. He had missed four games but made his comeback in the 1-0 defeat at West Ham.
Pennies pinched
Arsenal do not appear to have much money to play with.
Emery had previously claimed that the Gunners could only loan players this month, telling reporters, as quoted by The Guardian: “We cannot sign permanently.
“We can only loan players. I know the club is working on possibilities of which players can help us with big performances like we need now. I cannot say more.”
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This injury blow could prove to be a test of Emery’s words, particularly if Bellerin is ruled out until the end of the season, but Arsenal do not appear to be making any moves to bring in defensive reinforcements.
And that may well worry Gunners fans, who have grown used to the club spending less than the majority of their big six rivals.
