Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has serious worries if he is to be without midfielder Francis Coquelin for a period of time, former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks believes.
Coquelin lasted just 14 minutes in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at West Brom earlier today, being forced off with a bad knee injury.
Crooks feels that the French midfielder is vital for Arsenal and though Mathieu Flamini can be brought into the team, he is not the level of replacement the Gunners need.
"I think that's worrying, with the injuries as well", Crooks said on the BBC's Final Score programme, talking about Coquelin's injury.
"I think Arsene Wenger has some serious things to think about", he continued.
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"If Coquelin is out, Flamini is a natural replacement, but I don't think he's what they need to get them where they want to be."
Arsenal missed the chance to overtake Manchester City in the Premier League standings by losing to West Brom; the Citizens were blown away 4-1 by Liverpool in the league's late kick-off.
From starting the day in second place, Wenger's men have now dropped to fourth, with Leicester City topping the table from Manchester Unted; Manchester City are third.
Arsenal must now concentrate on the Champions League where they are due to play Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
