Arsenal injuries force Song to play centre-back

Alex Song will be forced to play as an emergency centre-half after Arsenal suffered another injury blow.

French defender Laurent Koscielny and Ivory Coast forward Gervinho were both ruled out on Tuesday - to take the club's list of injured absentees into double figures.

The 10 men ruled out also include England duo Theo Walcott - who is expected to be fit to face Tottenham in the North London derby on Sunday - and Jack Wilshere who, according to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, will be fit for next summer's Euro 2012 finals.

Arsenal are facing a major defensive crisis, as Johan Djourou, Thomas Vermaelen, Sebastien Squillaci are already out, while even youngster Ignasi Miquel suffered a back spasm during the warm-up before a reserve game on Monday.

Midfielders Abou Diaby and and Yossi Benayoun are also out.

The army of absentees will force Wenger into a reshuffle for Wednesday's home Champions League group game against Olympiacos, with Song switching to defence and Emmanuel Frimpong on standby for midfield.

Wenger rejected criticism of Arsenal's medics, particularly in relation to Wilshere, who is out for up to five months after undergoing surgery on his ankle.

"It's unfair, because the club medical staff hasn't made any mistake on that front," said the Frenchman. "It is unfortunate, we are all very sad at the club that it has happened to such a young boy.

"We were even more worried but it was a big relief for everybody at the club that the operation went well. I don't think that the medical staff made any mistake on this case."

Wenger believes Wilshere will be back in time to play a full part in the Euros next summer.

"I don't have any worries for that," he said. "He will be 12 weeks in a boot and after that it is rehab. Twelve weeks brings us to around Christmas.

"If all goes well, you would think he will be fit again to play in half the time you are in the boot - six weeks. Count 10 to be closer to the truth, so it's 22 weeks to be capable to play football again."

Meanwhile, Olympiacos keeper Franco Constanzo believes his team, the current Greek champions, can pull off an upset despite never having won in England in nine attempts, while conceding 29 goals and scoring just once.

"Arsenal are always a dangerous team but this season they don't offer so much fear as in the past," said the Argentina international.

"We will go there believing we can win. In the past, we might have gone for one point but now we must believe we can get all three.

"This season you can see that Arsenal are more vulnerable and Olympiacos could win if we play with intelligence."

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ARSENAL v OLYMPIACOS: PROBABLE TEAMS

Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Song, Gibbs; Frimpong, Ramsey, Arteta; Rosicky, Arshavin, Van Persie.

Olympiacos (4-2-3-1): Costanzo; Torosidis, Mellberg, A Papadopoulos, Marcano; Modesto, Orbaiz; Fuster, Abdoun, Djebbour; Mirallas.

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ARSENAL v OLYMPIACOS: THREE TO WATCH

Franco Costanzo - It's likely to be a busy night for the Argentine keeper. Is a full international but has a reputation for being eccentric.

Olof Mellberg - Swedish veteran who played for Aston Villa from 2001 to 2008. A very steady Premier League centre-half in his prime, but is now 34.

Kevin Mirallas - Belgian who is likely to cause the most problems for Arsenal. Likely to play up front on his own ahead of a five-man midfield.