Arsenal FC: Gunners' Lack of Depth Will Be Shown Against Liverpool

Arsene Wenger is facing one of the toughest selection crises in his Arsenal reign as the club faces a mighty Liverpool side this weekend with half the side ruled unable to play.

Jack Wilshere injured an ankle in preseason on 31 July. He was ruled out for three weeks and is a major doubt for Saturday's Premier League game with Liverpool.

Kieran Gibbs injured his hamstring in the 1-0 defeat of Udinese at the Emirates on Tuesday. He was replaced by Johan Djourou, who was taken off with the same injury.

Neither Gibbs nor Djourou will play on Saturday.

Samir Nasri, who is possibly on his way out of Arsenal, played in the preseason games but was absent in the match against Newcastle United last week as he was ruled out due to injury. 

Tomas Rosicky played with a groin strain against Udinese but is a doubt for Saturday's match.

Armand Traoré injured his groin in a reserve game this week, and Abou Diaby is a long-term absentee after ankle surgery.

New signing Gervinho is suspended for three domestic matches after his red card against Newcastle United last Saturday. He will miss games against Liverpool, Manchester United, and Swansea.

Alex Song will miss the same three games after a retrospective violent-conduct charge for stamping on Joey Barton in the same match.

With seven players injured and two players suspended, Wenger has to field in a team on which one can expect at least 2 players to make their Premier League debuts.

Wojciech Szczesny, who has been in good form, is expected to be the goalkeeper for the match this weekend.

Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny are fit at centre back, having done good jobs at Newcastle and also against the Udinese.

Bacary Sagna is expected to take his right-back position as usual.

The left-back position seems to be the area of concern as both Gibbs and Traore are injured. Vermaelen can play at that position, but if he does so, then Sebastien Squillaci will start as centre back, which does not look good as Squillaci has been a flop at Arsenal.

In the match against Udinese, Carl Jenkinson played as the left back for the final third of the game. Though he did not seem convincing as a left back, he cleared the ball or passed it back to the keeper. It did not create any problems against Udinese.

But against a Liverpool team that has Luis Suarez, Andy Carrol, Stewart Downing, and Charlie Adam in its ranks, Jenkinson may not be the ideal fit in for the left-back position.

The midfield has some serious concerns.

With the departure of Fabregas and the possible departure of Nasri leading to his absence, Aaron Ramsey is the only experienced player (at 20 years of age!) in the midfield who is available.

Emmanuel Frimpong is expected to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal this weekend as Alex Song is suspended.

Rosicky is also out due to groin strain, and hence Andrei Arshavin can be expected to play in the midfield.

The midfield problem may be reduced if Rosicky passes his fitness test. If so, then Arshavin will start along the wings.

Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott are expected to start (no other choice for Wenger).

In the left wing, Arsene Wenger may give Alex Oxlade Chamberlain his Premier League debut as Nicklas Bendtner is not suited to play at that position and Marouane Chamakh is not doing justice to his role.

The expected team to play:

Goal Keeper: Wojciech Szczesny

Defenders: Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen/ Sebastien Squillaci, Carl Jenkinson/Thomas Vermaelen

Midfield: Emmanuel Frimpong, Aaron Ramsey, Andrei Arshavin/Thomas Rosicky(if he is fit)

Wingers: Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner/Andrei Arshavin/Alex Chamberlain

Striker: Robin Van Persie

Substitutes: Lukas Fabianski, Ignasi Miquel, Sebastien Squillaci/Carl Jenkinson, Henri Lansbury, Marouane Chamakh, Alex Chamberlain/Nickals Bendtner

For a team which boasted of great depth, it is really pathetic to see Wenger searching for players to fill the squad, with at least two (or three) players—Jenkinson, Frimpong, and even Chamberlain—expecting their Premier League debuts.

In the second week of the Premier League, half of the Gunners squad is out injured. I'm wondering what the situation will be by December!

Do something, Arsene!