Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Manchester United: 5 things we learned – Positives despite defeat

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Paul Pogba of Manchester United celebrates victory with Eric Bailly after the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Paul Pogba of Manchester United celebrates victory with Eric Bailly after the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: An injured Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal in discussion with Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal as he is given assistance during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: An injured Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal in discussion with Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal as he is given assistance during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

4. Sokratis and Koscielny injuries frustrating

Just as you thought the injury crisis was coming to an end, Arsenal pick up yet another defensive problem. This time it is Sokratis, who has largely been everpresent during the festive famine, who seemed to roll his ankle or perhaps even damage his left Achilles as he went up for a loose ball with Jesse Lingard and fall awkwardly. And also Laurent Koscielny, who suffered a rather nasty gash earrly in the second half when battling with Romelu Lukaku.

While the depth problems are not quite as prominent as a few weeks ago, especially with Konstantinos Mavropanos now back in the fold, what is most frustrating is that he and Laurent Koscielny performed excellently and were just beginning to form a partnership. Now both could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

With Unai Emery having switched quite regularly along the backline, both in personnel and form, between a back four and a back three, forming partnerships is difficult. Playing time alongside one another is essential and no pair of Arsenal centre-backs have had such a luxury. Now, it might take that bit much longer.