Gibbs ruled out for a month

Arsenal's defensive crisis has deepened with the news that defender Kieran Gibbs has undergone surgery on his left groin and will be out for a month.

Gibbs has been out of action since October after having surgery to remove a hernia, but it had been hoped he would be back for this week's game against Aston Villa. The England full-back suffered a setback, however, and a specialist has ruled that the youngster will be out for a month.

"Kieran Gibbs has had surgery on his left groin and he will be out for a month," manager Arsene Wenger said.

Defenders Johan Djourou, Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson and Bacary Sagna are already out for the Gunners.

Those injuries have forced Wenger to field centre-backs Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny at full-back.