Bad news ahead of Sunday’s Premier League tie with West Bromwich Albion. Bacary Sagna’s scan yesterday revealed a hamstring injury that will leave him out of action for at least two weeks.

Sagna has been one of the team’s most consistent performers over the past three or four seasons, and has been in fine form so far during this campaign, and his absence will be felt. The French international sustained the injury in Tuesday night’s game against Napoli.

The international break softens the blow to some extent. After Sunday, the Gunners’ next match is at home to Norwich City on 19 October before a home Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund three days later.

Ready made replacement

The upside is that the team has a very able replacement in Carl Jenkinson, who will deputise at right back in Sagna’s absence. Jenkinson was yesterday called up to represent England’s Under 21s team by coach Gareth Southgate in their forthcoming ties against San Marino and Lithuania.

Jenkinson played at right back in the first three matches of this season when Sagna was filling in at centre back. The 21-year-old has proven such an able deputy to Sagna since joining from Charlton Athletic in 2011 that he already has one full England cap to his name: he appeared as a second half substitute in the England team that was beaten in a friendly by Sweden in November 2012.

Jenkinson has made 28 appearances for the Arsenal first team to date and is held in high regard by the fans.

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