Who can fill in at right-back for Arsenal?

Hector Bellerin’s injury is a huge blow

Arsenal have had a rough time with injuries this season. They’ve already lost Danny Welbeck and Rob Holding for the rest of the campaign. Now Hector Bellerin has joined them on the sidelines.

The right-back had only just returned from a calf problem when he ruptured his cruciate ligament against Chelsea last weekend.

With the Gunners 3/1 to secure a top-four spot, Bellerin’s injury leaves Unai Emery with a big problem on the right side of defence.

The North London club aren’t likely to bring in a replacement this month, so who will Emery choose to cover for the Spaniard?

Stephan Lichtsteiner

Signing Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer seemed like a no-brainer in the summer. Arsenal needed a reliable alternative to Bellerin and the Switzerland captain was a serial winner during seven years at Juventus. He’d also add some much-needed know-how in the dressing room.

The problem is that the 35-year-old has looked well off the pace on the pitch. Whether at right-back or as part of a back three, he’s struggled to adjust to the Premier League.

The veteran is a totally different type of player to Bellerin too. The Spaniard’s ability to bomb forward is a valuable attacking weapon on the right. Lichtsteiner doesn’t offer any of that dynamism, but he hasn’t looked secure defensively either.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

He may want to be a midfielder, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ versatility has seen him play all over the pitch for the Gunners.