The absence of Takehiro Tomiyasu in recent weeks has been a blow for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.
The Japan international has been in fine form since completing a move from Bologna to the Gunners on transfer deadline day last summer, but he has missing with a calf problem recently.
Cedric Soares has been the cover for Tomiyasu and the Portuguese defender has impressed, in particular in the final third, with his delivery on point in recent times.
If anything was to happen to Cedric, however, then Arsenal could face a huge selection problem as they continue to fight for a UEFA Champions League spot this season.
A position on the Arsenal bench now looks like it could be taken up by youngster Zak Swanson. The 21-year-old defender has been a regular for the Gunners Under-23s side this season - and has captained them on numerous occasions.
Swanson spent time last season on loan at Dutch outfit MVV Maastricht, meaning he has some senior experience under his belt already, albeit not in the Premier League.
The full-back was part of the Arsenal first-team contingent that trained at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the week, alongside fellow academy stars Omari Hutchinson and Zach Awe.
Swanson has been with Arsenal for way over a decade, impressing as a youngster when he starred in the under-18 Premier League.
He has been praised by coach Freddie Ljungberg, who said he had done "very well" – and under-23s coach Steve Bould, a versatile defender himself in his playing days, has hailed him as one of the squad’s stand-outs, even if he isn’t as showy as some of his team-mates.
"I think he’s a bit of a forgotten man," Bould said to the Arsenal official website in November 2019. "Zak’s one of those players that plays at 7/10 every week and you know what you’re going to get from him and step by step he’s becoming a more polished player week in week out."
Who are the teams you love to hate? Which teams do you have a soft spot for? Take part in our League of Love & Hate survey
Swanson could be on the bench for Sunday afternoon's trip to Vicarage Road when Arsenal take on struggling Watford as they look to climb above Manchester United, for the time being at least.
While the right-back is not expected to get any minutes at the weekend, there could be a case made for him coming onto the pitch should the Gunners be comfortably ahead in the Premier League clash.
