Arsenal kept their four-pronged assault for silverware this season on course with a hard fought win over Huddersfield in the FA Cup, but the 2-1 victory came at a huge cost to Arsene Wenger's side.
It was the sight all Arsenal fans feared on 31 minutes as Samir Nasri pulled up sharply clutching his left hamstring after chasing Manuel Almunia's long punt.
Everyone knew the in-form Frenchman was in trouble and he was substituted immediately, heading straight for the dressing-room.
After the game Wenger confirmed the extent of Nasri's problem: "He has a serious hamstring injury and that is usually three weeks," he said. "But we will have to see first. If it is a Grade One it could only be two weeks."
With Sebastien Squillaci being shown a straight red card, questions will now be asked about the Arsenal squad's ability to cope with fighting on four fronts.
Some will be ready to write the epitaph to Arsenal's season along with the blow of losing Nasri to injury, but Wenger has the options to cope in attack. There is no shortage of attacking talent at the Emirates with Walcott, Arshavin, Rosicky, Wilshere, Fabregas, Van Persie, Bendtner and Chamakh at his disposal.
That is not to say the loss of the Frenchman is not a huge blow, and while he cannot be replaced directly, his absence can be covered. But it is in defence where the north London club look increasingly short.
The problem position seems to be at center-back, where Thomas Vermaelen is still injured and now Squillaci faces a three-match ban. Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou have formed an impressive partnership at the heart of Arsenal's defense over the past few weeks, but if anything were to happen to either of them the Gunners would be short.
At the moment Alex Song is the only cover in this area of the field and produced a good display when pressed into action against Huddersfield, but if he has to play there regularly, Arsenal would lose a huge cog in the wheel in midfield.
But Wenger seems reluctant to use the last few days of the transfer window wisely and has once again stated that he is not interested in signing anyone, but with the games coming thick and fast the manager did hint at the possibility of recalling some of his younger players out on loan to boost the squad.
He said: "I will look at the option of recalling some loan players. People like Jay Emanuel-Thomas, Kyle Bartley and Henri Lansbury could come back. Bartley has never played in the Premier League so it could be difficult but the other two are options."
But while these youngsters are all good players with big potential, are they actually capable of helping Arsenal maintain an assault on the quadruple?
The answer is emphatically, no.
Many of these players have not even experienced the demands of Premier League football and it would be a highly risky strategy from a club who do not lack the financial resources to boost their squad.
The likes of Lansbury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Bartley and Craig Eastmond will play a big part in the future of the club but Arsenal fans will be worried if Wenger yet again places his trust in this batch of youngsters should injuries take their toll.
Two players who could boost Arsenal during the run-in could be Aaron Ramsey and Carlos Vela. Both players have gone out on loan to get games under their belts and if they manage to get regular match time they could find themselves making an impact at the Emirates.
Ramsey is only on a one-month loan deal at Cardiff, and provided he gets back to match fitness he could be a vital addition to the squad come March.
Vela's deal keeps him at West Bromwich Albion until the end of the season but should Arsenal be short of strikers the Mexican international could find himself back in Wenger's plans.
But it is the next month or so which will be crucial. The Gunners face a vital period of games starting against Everton on Tuesday, taking in Newcastle away, Wolves at home, Barcelona and a League Cup final.
If the squad can come through these games with most players intact they could be a force to be reckoned with but as the Nasri injury has hit home, the Gunners are only a couple of injuries away from a real crisis. That is why having only two fit center-backs is a huge gamble - but one Wenger seems happy to take.
Wenger openly admitted in his press conference that their recent schedule had taken its toll, but if the Gunners have serious ambitions to continue fighting on four fronts and ending their six-year trophy drought they will surely need at least one defensive addition to the squad.
The Arsenal boss sees it differently, claiming the depth of the current squad is 'the best he has ever had during his time at the club.'
Only time will tell if Wenger is right and the fans will be hoping the lack of transfer activity, in particular at center-half, does not come back to haunt them at the business end of the season.
But If Wenger surprises everyone and dips into the market for a last minute addition there is no reason why this Arsenal side could not finish the campaign with the silverware and success they crave.
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