• Premier League

Mertesacker and Gibbs back for derby

Arsene Wenger expects Arsenal's defensive injury woes to be eased with the returns of Kieran Gibbs and Per Mertesacker for this weekend's north London derby clash against Tottenham.

The pair were only fit enough to make the bench last night as Southampton won 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to knock Arsenal out of the League Cup.

Arsene Wenger admitted he was disappointed after Arsenal's defeat to Southamton © Getty Images

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Southampton took advantage of an experienced Arsenal back four made up of Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Isaac Hayden and Francis Coquelin , who have just 54 senior appearances between them - the majority belonging to Coquelin, playing out of position at left-back.

Mathieu Debuchy has been ruled out for three months after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury while Nacho Monreal is also missing, but Wenger says Mertesacker and Gibbs' knocks won't rule them out on Saturday.

"They will be all right,'' Wenger said. "We are a bit short, yes, because of the injuries we have.

"You sit there and think: Gibbs had a little hamstring problem and we could not play him, Mertesacker is a bit on the edge, and then we have no choice.

"I think if we lost the game tonight, it's not because of Hayden, not because of Chambers and not because of Coquelin. You have to be realistic.''

Wenger cut a forlorn figure after Arsenal went out in the third round for the first time in 12 years, with Alexis Sanchez's free-kick cancelled out by a Dusan Tadic penalty and stunning long-range effort from Nathaniel Clyne.

"It's disappointing because we had a good start and we made two unneeded errors on the two goals - and big ones,'' Wenger said.

"We lacked a bit of experience at the back, but overall they did well. We gave a lot and it's frustrating not to be able to score in the second half.

"When you look at the amount of possession we had, we have to give credit to Southampton, they played well and were well organised.

"They abused a bit the fouls in the middle of the park, but they are a good side and they played well tonight. Overall it is frustrating because we gave a lot.''

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