Unai Emery's Arsenal could be facing a defensive crisis

Unai Emery has demonstrated expert tactical awareness this season – making several effective substitutions – but has a tricky team selection to make this weekend with four centre-backs ruled out for the trip to Southampton.

Arsenal are hampered by suspensions for Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi and will not be able to call on Rob Holding (knee) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin).

Laurent Koscielny has recently recovered from a long-term Achilles injury but hasn't featured in a league game since April.

However, the Frenchman looks like having to play a key role on the south coast, where the Gunners will be hoping to extend their Premier League unbeaten run to 15 games.

Injuries bite for Terriers

Huddersfield slipped back into the bottom three after last Saturday's 1-0 loss at Arsenal and their chances of getting back out are hampered by several injury problems as they prepare to host Newcastle at the John Smith's Stadium tomorrow.

Tommy Smith (hamstring) and Jonathan Hogg (muscle) failed to finish the match at the Emirates while Aaron Mooy (knee) suffered a knee injury which will rule him out until February.

Mooy is one of Huddersfield's most influential players and it was his two goals which secured a 2-0 success at Wolves in the Terriers' best performance of the campaign. His absence during the busy weeks to come is a major blow.

However, Huddersfield's options are boosted by the availability of Danish midfielder Phil Billing, who missed the Arsenal match due to a one-match ban.

Wednesday problems mount

Jos Luhukay is under massive pressure in the Sheffield Wednesday dugout and hopes of an immediate upturn in results are hampered by the absence of key players.

Injury-prone Wednesday striker Fernando Forestieri (hamstring) is facing another six weeks on the sidelines after lasting just 44 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Blackburn 13 days ago.

And Wednesday head to Swansea tomorrow without midfield playmaker Barry Bannan, who starts a two-game ban having collected ten yellow cards.

Bannan has been one of the few consistent performers in an Owls shirt this season, contributing two goals and two assists in the Sky Bet Championship.

Mixed news for Villa

Aston Villa were on the wrong end of a refereeing decision when West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez used his arm to net an injury-time equaliser in last Friday's 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns.

And the evening was a painful experience in a physical sense with left-back Neil Taylor (hamstring) and creative midfielder Jack Grealish (shin) failing to finish the match.

Grealish's shin injury has been managed over the last few weeks and Villa boss Dean Smith will be desperate to get the 23-year-old on to the pitch for tomorrow's key clash at home to Stoke.

Smith will certainly be without Taylor, who faces a two-week layoff but Icelandic midfielder Birkir Bjarnason could soon be back in the frame after missing the last six games with a groin injury.

Bjarnason has returned to training and should be ready to play a full part over the Christmas period.

Norris could be chucked back in

Colchester received a massive boost last weekend when their joint-top scorer, seven-goal striker Luke Norris, made an earlier-than-expected return from an ankle injury, featuring for the last 15 minutes of the 1-0 win at home to Macclesfield.

Norris suffered the injury during an early November 1-0 success at home to Swindon and it was initially feared that he would face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Without him Colchester have struggled for goals, notching just three in five matches.

The Essex club have received further good news on the injury front with centre-back Tom Eastman (eye socket) and goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin (hamstring) back in contention.

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