The midweek international break – which for some reason took place just 3 before the big 2013/14 Premier League kick off – has presented a selection headache for Arsene Wenger.

Bacary Sagna was seen limping after providing his international services for France on Wednesday night, and is supposedly a doubt for this weekend’s opener against Aston Villa.

Aaron Ramsey also pulled out of Wales’ squad which drew 0-0 with the Republic of Ireland, after a string of solid performances in pre-season.

New boy Yaya Sanogo is also a doubt to make his Premiership debut after missing out on his France U21 side’s fixture with Germany.

The list

The additional knocks add to the list of already crocked stars in Arsenal red – a list that is decidedly longer than it should be. –

About Diaby (knee)

Ryo Miyaichi (rib)

Thomas Vermaelen (back)

Nacho Monreal (back)

Bacary Sagna (ankle)

Aaron Ramsey (ankle)

Yaya Sanogo (hamstring)

High hopes

Sagna and Ramsey had performed brilliantly in pre-season games, with the French fullback strong on the attack as well as defensively against Manchester City.

After Thomas Vermaelen’s injury, Arsenal were counting on Sagna to fill in at centre-back in the Belgian’s absence. However with left-back Nacho Monreal also injured, Arsenal are relatively short at the back.

Having failed to bring in Ashley Williams from Swansea, the Gunners are likely to draft in Carl Jenkinson who covered for Sagna at the start of last season.

Aaron Ramsey had performed better than expected in pre-season and was vying for a starting place, with the added boost of Jack WIlshere’s return to football. Despite coming under playful scrutiny for his lack of pace during a comedy interview hijacked by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey had performed consistently in Asia.

Olivier Giroud’s form in Asia coupled with the injury to Sanogo makes him likely to start, and Theo Walcott’s display for England against Scotland – which included a fantastic run and goal – proved that he is fit for the new season.

Latest: