Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs will be sidelined until the end of January after undergoing an operation on his left groin, deepening the Gunners' defensive crisis.

28069 - Gunners' Gibbs out for another month

Gibbs, 22, had been out of action since October following surgery to remove a hernia but recently returned to training and was expected to be involved over the hectic Christmas period.

However, the England international has now suffered a fresh setback, and a specialist has ruled that he faces another month out of action.

"Kieran Gibbs has had surgery on his left groin and he will be out for a month,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed.

The Gunners have a significantly depleted defence at present, with Johan Djourou, Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson and Bacary Sagna also sidelined.

Those injuries have forced Wenger to field centre-backs Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny at left and right full-back respectively.