Arsene Wenger admits he may risk bringing Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil back into the Arsenal first team early.
The trio were given extra time off following Euro 2016 but the Gunners are currently in the midst of an injury crisis and their issues were exposed when they lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool on the opening weekend.
Following another relatively quiet summer in the transfer market, Wenger is again facing questions over his lack of spending.
Saturday sees the Gunners travel to Premier League champions Leicester, another side with top-four ambitions who lost on the first weekend, going down 2-1 at promoted Hull.
Arsenal are currently 2.40 to win at the King Power Stadium, with the draw 3.40 and the Foxes priced at 2.88.
With his options limited, Wenger says he could be forced into reintroducing Giroud, Koscielny and Ozil ahead of schedule for the game in the East Midlands.
The boss admits it would be a gamble to bring them back early but concedes his squad’s situation means he may have no other choice.
“Maybe I will take a gamble on bringing them back early but I have 48 hours to decide that,” said Wenger.
“It’s a bit early, I have three players who have not played for two-and-a-half months. Laurent is close to returning and if I have to take a gamble on one it is certainly on him.
“Do you give the player normal holiday and they aren’t ready, or they are mentally and physically jaded?”
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