'Good news on Gabriel and the return of Saliba essential'

An Arsenal-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

NMP asked: Hi Phil. Do you think Arsenal's biggest worry is the abrupt drop in quality if a centre-back gets injured? Calafiori and Timber are preferred as left-backs, and Kiwior just appears too naive compared to Gabriel and Saliba. It showed again yesterday when he left the space totally free for Salah to wander into. They seem to have adequate squad coverage everywhere but there.

Phil answered: Hello, NMP. Yes, that is an area where they can least afford to lose players.

I think Arsenal's injuries are a worry and they have come in a rush, from Odegaard then Timber and Calafiori along with the untimely one-game suspension for William Saliba.

This is why the last thing they needed to see was Gabriel going off against Liverpool yesterday then sitting on the bench with an ice pack on his knee and thigh. They will be desperately hoping this is not serious.

I think they came to rely so heavily on Saliba and Gabriel last season, with Saliba playing every league game and Gabriel missing only two, that there is bound to be a drop-off when you miss even one of these outstanding players.

They ended yesterday with Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly as their back four - and that is obviously not sustainable.

This is why good news on Gabriel and the return of Saliba are essential.

Read more of Phil McNulty's Q&A and the rest of Monday's football news