Arsenal injury crisis worsens; ...Koscielny limps out of training, Szczesny ruled out with back injury!

Arsene Wenger has been dealt another defensive injury blow today after Laurent Koscielny limped out of training and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was ruled out of Monday night's friendly in Nagoya.

France defender Koscielny pulled out of the session late on with what looked like a right ankle problem.

The extent of the injury was immediately assessed by a member of the Gunners medical team before the defender moved inside the Mizuno Rugby Stadium for a further examination.

The severity of the injury remains unclear, but he is likely to be a doubt for tomorrow's friendly.

And in another blow, Szczesny is already almost certain to miss tomorrow's clash with a lower back problem.

The Pole is understood to have picked up the problem in training since their arrival in Japan on Friday morning.

Either Lukasz Fabianski or Damien Martinez will deputise for Szczesny against Nagoya Grampus.

The news of Koscielny's injury means Wenger is currently down to one fully fit senior central defender on the club's Far East tour, Per Mertesacker; though he does have youngster Ignasi Miquel in the squad too.

Wenger is already without Thomas Vermaelen, who is out for three months with a lower back injury.

Koscielny's injury could see Wenger step up his interest in long-term target Swansea centre half Ashley Williams.

Striker Olivier Giroud, who is the club's top pre-season goalscorer with five strikes in two games, was also involved in an injury scare during open training session.

The France international limped off halfway through the session with a calf problem. But Giroud later re-joined the session to ease fears over his fitness.