Weekend Briefing: Arsenal defence strengthened by Pablo Mari

Gunners boosted at the back

Arsenal have been stretched at the back in recent weeks but they have acted this week, recruiting 26-year-old Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo.

Mari, who featured against Liverpool in the 2019 Club World Cup final, could make the switch on a permanent basis if Arsenal choose to exercise a purchase option this summer.

There is also some light at the end of the tunnel on the injury front with defensive duo Shkodran Mustafi (ankle) and Kieran Tierney (shoulder) expected to play a part before the end of the season.

Mustafi looked set for a long spell on the sidelines after he was carried off during the Gunners' 2-1 success at Bournemouth in Monday's FA Cup fourth-round clash.

However, scans have revealed that the German faces weeks rather than months on the sidelines and there was a positive update on Tierney, who has resumed light fitness work for the first time since undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

Tierney is not expected to resume full training until March but Arsenal's defensive options are boosted immediately by the return of David Luiz, who has completed a one-match suspension.

Luiz and Mari will compete with Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Rob Holding for starting berths at Burnley.

Dons getting stronger

Persistent injury problems have contributed to MK Dons having a tough season in Sky Bet League One but the Buckinghamshire side are looking much healthier as they prepare to take on Wycombe this weekend.

Influential central defender Jordan Moore-Taylor started and finished Tuesday's 2-1 victory at home to Rochdale, making his first appearance since November.

The Dons were also boosted by the return of key midfielder Alex Gilbey – League One's player of the month for December – who had missed the 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland.

And their squad is set to be even stronger for the Wycombe game with midfielder Conor McGrandles expected to shake off the foot injury which ruled him out of contention in midweek.

Dons' manager Russell Martin will have to make do without striker Joe Mason (muscle strain), who has missed training this week.

Cod Army count cost of Coventry draw

Fleetwood dropped two points and lost two players on Tuesday with Harrison Biggins (fractured cheekbone) and Kyle Dempsey (back) failing to finish their 0-0 draw at home to Coventry.

Frustrations are increasing for Fleetwood manager Joey Barton, who has not seen his team pocket three points since a 3-2 victory at Rochdale on Boxing Day.

The Cod Army have gone eight games without a win – leaving them six points outside League One's top six - and will not be able to utilise Biggins or Dempsey for their clash at home to playoff rivals Doncaster.

It left Barton to ponder making a few late moves in the transfer window.

He said: "There will be chances for other players now and we have to be active in the transfer market because we're another two players down, so there's work to be done before Doncaster."

Shrimpers squad shrinking

Struggling Southend are running out of games to save themselves from League One relegation and their numbers of available senior players are decreasing as they prepare to take on Lincoln at Roots Hall.

Shrimpers' boss Sol Campbell had to make to without his captain Timothee Dieng (hamstring) for Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Doncaster and may be denied the services of another two or three players this weekend with defender Rob Kiernan and goalkeeper Nathan Bishop closing in on transfers to Orange County and Manchester United and striker Stephen Humphrys (nose) likely to be ruled out.

Humphrys tops Southend's league scoring charts with five goals but he lasted just 37 minutes of the Doncaster game.

It all adds to the problems for Campbell, whose side are 15 points adrift of safety.

He said: "It's not easy with what we've got now, I'm trying to make things work and pieces keep on disappearing. You've just got re-juggle and go again."

Rovers rocked by Shepherd injury

Forest Green's Sky Bet League promotion push is in danger of being derailed after they sustained a third successive defeat on Tuesday, losing 4-1 at home to Carlisle.

It was Rovers' heaviest league defeat of the season, leaving them three points adrift of the playoff places, and was compounded by an injury to first-choice right-back Liam Shepherd, who lasted just 16 minutes on his return from a three-week layoff.

Shepherd's attacking style of play is key to the way Rovers like to play although he has been outshone by left-back Joseph Mills, who has contributed seven goals and six assists in just 24 league appearances this season.

However, Mills has missed the last two games with an unspecified injury and there is the possibility that Forest Green could be without both full-backs for their clash at Grimsby.

They have more options offensively, although on-loan Colchester winger Jevani Brown (hamstring) is ruled out.

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