Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger must nurse Laurent Koscielny through the next three months ahead of the January transfer window.
The Telegraph says Koscielny has an ongoing Achilles problem that has already ruled him out of one game this season, the 2-2 draw at Everton, and also suffered a head injury against Leicester City.
The 28-year-old pulled out of the France squad for the international games against Spain and Serbia.
Wenger is wary to push Koscielny's Achilles too hard, which means the Frenchman will sit out of Capital One Cup games and will not be risked if he feels any pain ahead of Premier League and Champions League matches.
Any long-term Achilles injury to Koscielny would give Wenger a major problem.
He has just Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and teenager Calum Chambers to pick from in central defence until the January transfer window at the earliest.
