ARSENAL have been given a major injury scare after Ainsley Maitland-Niles suffered an injury in the warm-up to their prestige clash with Real Madrid.
Maitland-Niles has been pencilled in to start the season as first-choice right-back with Hector Bellerin sidelined.
But the utility player pulled up with a calf problem as he went through the exercise session before the overnight friendly defeat against Real in Washington.
And it is unclear at this stage whether the problem is serious enough to keep him out for a period, with the Premier League campaign beginning in under three weeks.
It is a big concern for boss Unai Emery who has seen his defensive planning for the season ruined by lack of signings, injury and player revolt.
Usual right-back Bellerin is back in training after a long-term knee problem, but is not thought to be in with a chance of a playing return until September.
Having allowed veteran Stephan Lichsteiner to leave on a free transfer, Maitland-Niles was the clear alternative and has been pencilled in to start the opening weekend clash with Newcastle.
LEAKY DEFENCE
But if the 21-year-old is unable to feature, it would leave Emery having to turn to Carl Jenkinson – a player the club have been desperately trying to offload all summer.
Jenkinson is one of the Arsenal stars offered to Crystal Palace in a part-exchange deal for Wilfried Zaha, and is a long way short of the quality the club need if they are to shore up their leaky defence.
But if Maitland-Niles is forced to miss even the next ten days of pre-season training, it could leave him short of the fitness needed to take on the Geordies at St James’ Park on August 11.
It is just another headache for Arsenal boss Emery, who has so far been unable to bring in even one defender capable of solving a problem area in his side.
The Gunners boss has even admitted his side have no chance of being able to compete for the title this season, before it has even begun.
Latest Arsenal news
Laurent Koscielny’s future at the Emirates is now in major doubt after the Frenchman decided to go on striker by refusing to travel for the US tour.
He was thought to be the leading defender at the club, but now Emery is left with veteran Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding as centre backs.
Holding himself is only just making his first steps on a comeback from a serious knee injury suffered in December.
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News Photo Arsenal injury scare as Ainsley Maitland-Niles pulls up in warm up ahead of Real Madrid clash
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