Goalkeeper was not supposed to be a problem for Arsenal. If anything, the addition of World Cup goalkeeper David Ospina was going to push clear No. 1 netminder Wojciech Szczesny a bit harder.
But with Szczesny suspended for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League title against Anderlecht and Ospina nursing a thigh problem, the Gunners are going to have to turn to 22-year-old Emiliano Martinez between the sticks.
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The youngster, once called up to the Argentina senior squad, has not played for the Gunners outside of a pair of League Cup matches. His lone appearances in English football have been on loan to Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday.
From the BBC:Defender Calum Chambers is available after a domestic ban, while forward Lukas Podolski has overcome an illness.
Centre-back Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and forwards Mesut Ozil (knee), Yaya Sanogo (hamstring) and Olivier Giroud (foot) are all out.
Theo Walcott is not yet fully fit as he recovers from a nine-month injury lay-off, while France full-back Mathieu Debuchy also remains a long-term absentee with an ankle problem.
It’s a big match for Arsenal, who are second to Borussia Dortmund in Group D with three points through two matches. Anderlecht and Galatasaray are both two points back of the Gunners heading into the weekend. Missing Koscielny is a far bigger blow than having to start a 22-year-old, though.