Arsenal urged to forfeit Man City game this weekend and take three nil loss to avoid getting ‘absolutely hammered’
Sokratis has joined Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding on the sidelines ahead of a key run of games for the Gunners - and fans are concerned
ARSENAL's defensive injury crisis left some fans asking the club to forfeit their upcoming Premier League trip to Manchester City.
The Gunners travel to the defending champions this Sunday and could be without four senior defenders.
Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding are long-term absentees, while Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny joined the injury-list against Manchester United.
And though France international Koscielny is said to have avoided suffering a broke jaw when accidentally kicked by Romelu Lukaku, Sokratis will miss between three and four weeks with a twisted ankle.
Unai Emery has tended to deploy a back-three of late but must either re-think his system, put players out-of-position or make a last-ditch signing to cover the shortfall.
Shkodran Mustafi is the only full-fit senior centre-back available.
The Football Association could even look to increase the reprimand if they see fit.
Arsenal have lost their last four meetings in all competitions with City, including last season's Carabao Cup final.
Their last top flight success came back in December 2015, when they ran out 2-1 winners at The Emirates Stadium thanks to goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.
And it is just over four years since Arsenal last won at the Etihad, when they claimed a 2-0 success with Santi Cazorla and Giroud again getting on the scoresheet.