Saints are having an injury crisis just as they looked set to get the season back on track, the news that Kyle Walker Peters will miss the game against the Gunners and possibly more meaning we go into Sunday missing 4 of our best players.

Ralph Hasenhuttl goes into the game against unbeaten in the Premier league Arsenal without arguably 4 of his best 5 players missing.

Tino Livramento is of course a long term injury and not back to Xmas at the earliest, Romeo Lavia has missed the last 8 weeks with a hamstring injury although he has now returned to training he is not match fit, Armel Bella-Kotchap is out with a dislocated shoulder and now they are joined by Kyle Walker Peters with also a hamstring.

That means that Hasenhuttl will be without 4 of his 5 best players.

If we weren't playing Arsenal then perhaps the squad could cope, Ainsley Maitland-Niles can play as a right back and going forward that could conceivably be the case at Crystal Palace next week when it is likely Lavia will return in the centre of midfield, but with the loanee from Arsenal unable to play against his parent club that isn't an option this weekend.

Kyle Walker Peters absence will be a blow, but when Ralph says it will be a long term injury he is being economic with the truth in that with only 3 weeks and 4 games left of the first part of the season followed by the World Cup break, for Walker Peters it will only be a short spell out, given he should be fit by Boxing Day in two months time.

Likewise at least three of the injured will definetly be fit again by then and Tino Livramento won't be far behind.

But firstly we have to get the game against Arsenal out of the way, after that I think the squad can cope with Maitland-Miles slotting in at right back.

But for Sunday Ralph has some thinking to do, does he play both his available full backs , Romain Perraud & Juan Lavia and switch one to the right.

Does he just switch one, likely Perraud and play Djenepo on the left, or does he switch James Ward Prowse to right back, if Lavia were fit that would be an option for this game, but I don't think he will be.

On the face of it things look bleak for the visit of the Gunners, but sometimes in adversity, inner strength is found by teams and we have beaten better teams from worse positions.

Photo: Action Images

davidpeach added 15:20 - Oct 21 Not a good time to be missing full backs with Martinelli and Saka to face. I would play Larios on the left and Peraud on the right. At least he doesnt have to go for the Jack Stephens option now.
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1962saint added 15:59 - Oct 21 Maitland-Niles is ineligible as he's on loan and facing his parent club.
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Block8 added 16:09 - Oct 21 It might be worth a punt on Lewis Payne as RFB, at least he is familiar with the position. Sorry I do not rate Djenepo at full back and Perraud is very one footed. I would also be inclined to play S. Armstrong in centre mid with Prowsey, he has played there and not let us down whilst doing so! Or as a last resort play Lyanco sitting in front of the centre backs with SA & JWP in front of him? Aribo, Adams and AA in front of them. With such a lack of experienced defenders we really can't afford to sit deep and hope.

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bornonthemiltonroad added 17:20 - Oct 21 May go for the three CB and Elyounoussi and Perraud as wing backs. That’s pretty much how we were set up once KWP went off on Wednesday. Not the fixture to give Lewis Payne a run out I don’t think. Bit if a worry meeting top of the league with no experienced right back but time to step up to the plate for someone.
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YosemiteSaint added 18:11 - Oct 21 I wonder if Wednesday's match against an attack-minded Bournemouth side ended up being the perfect prep for Arsenal (with two caveats: unlike B'mouth, Arsenal are much better at attacking from the wings, and unlike B'mouth they won't miss when given a chance on goal). For us it was largely a rear-guard action at the back, with occasional not un-dangerous attacks from speedy forwards at the front. Five at the back with maybe a stopper/destroyer (Lyanco, if he can stay disciplined). That's really the only way we stand a chance of getting a result against Gunners. So let's stick to the blueprint and bring 'em on!

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SanMarco added 20:16 - Oct 21 Pedantic correction - Arsenal aren't unbeaten. Hasn't JWP played at RB in the past? Tricky run of games up to the WC break - 4 points would be a good return I reckon. Arsenal are due a league defeat so who knows...
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kingolaf added 12:09 - Oct 22 Wednesday merely papered over the considerable cracks. We won’t win another game this side of Christmas and the dithering owners will do nothing. Nick will have to work hard on his bizarre campaign of keeping Ralph pretty hard over the coming weeks.
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underweststand added 08:45 - Oct 23 well to start with - NO-ONE can blame Ralph for the 4 key injury cases we have at present, and a game against an in-form Arsenal side would be a challenge in any circumstances. A major revamp of the defence already is on the cards. Arsenal may be entitled to play a few reserve players in a side that has conceded very few goals this season, and Saints strikers are shooting blanks in almost every game and most managers would do the same considering their upcoming programme and Euro involvement. Ironically, this may be the one flaw in Arteta's planning. Historically Saints teams of every generation have shown the ability to raise their game for the big occasion and send teams home pointless from SMS. All Saints players will sense the opportunity to show up well against a side in such good form and although many will be expecting the Gunners to get a hatful of goals, it would be no surprise to me to see Saints pull another rabbit out of the hat and pick up valuable points when they are least expected.

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