Arsenal fly out on US Tour with just two fit centre-backs after they were struck by illness and injury

ARSENAL have flown out for their pre-season tour of the US with just two fit centre-backs after they were hit by injury and illness.

The Gunners took off on their flight to America this afternoon rocked by the loss of captain Per Mertesacker.

The World Cup winner has been forced to stay in England after suffering a knee injury in training.

And he joins fellow centre-back Gabriel missing out on the two-match visit to the States after he was laid low with tonsillitis.

That means the only two recognised central defenders on the plane across the Atlantic are Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding.

Chambers has only rarely been played in the middle of the defence at Arsenal with Arsene Wenger preferring to use him at right back.

And Holding is only just settling in to life with the Gunners after joining in a £2.5million move from Bolton last month.

First choice defender Laurent Koscielny is still not back in training after being given extended time off after reaching the Euro 2016 final with France.

It means boss Wenger will have only two matches once Arsenal return from America to play any of his senior defenders before they host Liverpool on the opening day of the new Premier League season.

Arsenal are keeping tight-lipped over the extent of the injury Mertesacker has suffered, only confirming he would be staying in London for treatment.

The Gunners take on MLS All-Stars on Thursday at the Avaya Stadium in San Jose, before taking on Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara next week at the Stubhub Centre.

On their return from the States, Arsenal will then fly out to play Viking Stavangar in Norway before taking on Manchester City in Gothenburg.