Arsenal dealt fresh defensive blow as Mikel Arteta confirms Oleksandr Zinchenko injury

Arsenal have been dealt a fresh defensive injury blow after Oleksandr Zinchenko was ruled out of their Premier League clash with Fulham.

Mikel Arteta confirmed Zinchenko has suffered an injury after he named Thomas Partey at right-back at Craven Cottage, with Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori also still missing.

Jurrien Timber switched to left-back against Fulham and Jakub Kiwior partnered William Saliba at centre-back.

Kieran Tierney is a long-term injury absentee.

Speaking about Zinchenko before the Fulham game, Arteta said: “He got injured as well unfortunately so we are missing four left full-backs.

“Adapt[ing] is the sort of thing you have to go through in a season and I am sure we will be fine.”

Arsenal can move to within four points of Liverpool if they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage, after the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was postponed on Saturday due to Storm Darragh.

Asked about closing the gap to Liverpool in the title race, Arteta said: “It's up to us. Winning our football matches, I'm sure we're going to be closer and put our noses right in there. That's what we want to do.”

With Partey at right-back, Jorginho came into midfield against Fulham alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.