Arsenal defender faces two months on the sidelines with ankle injury

Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista is facing up to two months out with an ankle ligament injury. 

Wenger is determined to sign a new defender by Friday with the Gunners facing going into their season opener against Liverpool on Sunday without a senior centre-half. 

Per Mertesacker is out until 2017 with a knee injury and been joined on the injured-list by Gabriel after he was crocked in Sunday’s friendly against Manchester City. 

Laurent Koscielny only returned to training on Monday after being handed an extended break following Euro 2016 leaving Wenger down to the bare bones.