Arsene Wenger admits he may be forced to sign a full-back on loan in January depending on the extent of Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs' setback.
Gibbs had initially been pencilled in to return from a hernia injury against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, but requires a longer period on the sidelines.
Arsenal are sending the England international to see a specialist and his continued absence has compounded Wenger's problems at full-back.
Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson are also injured, meaning centre-halves Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen are likely to start on the flanks against Villa.
Wenger has been linked with a loan move for Manchester City outcast Wayne Bridge and the Arsenal boss is weighing up a foray into the transfer market when the window opens next month.
"He will see a specialist again and if something happens there that he has had a real setback then we could (go in to the loan market), possibly, yes," Wenger told the club's official website.
"That's what we are doing. We are starting to look at players if Gibbs is not back."
However, Wenger did reveal some good news from the treatment room about Sagna, who broke his leg in October.
"He has started to run again yesterday and today (Monday and Tuesday)," Wenger said.
Wenger has demanded an immediate response from his team against Villa after they saw their eight-match unbeaten run end at Manchester City on Sunday.
"I said after the game that we can take a lot of encouragement therefore it's important we respond quickly," Wenger said.
"It (the loss) was very difficult to explain. All players had spirit.
"We are a team who wants to respond quickly now and keep our spirit and determination.
"Then we have a bright future, but it's important that if we keep that spirit and determination we can go from strength to strength.
"We are not the same team we were two months ago."
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