Arsenal’s new injury blow to be a knockout blow?

Poor old Arsene Wenger just cannot seem to catch a break. If it is not a referee like Mike Dean denying Arsenal two good penalty shouts and forcing us into an FA cup replay that we could really do without, it is a Champions League draw throwing us up against one of the big favourites Bayern Munich in the group stage and then the only team worse than the Germans in the knockout stage.

But you must agree that the real bad luck for Wenger and the Gunners in recent years has been on the injury front. Abou Diaby, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey have probably been the three players most affected by this jinx but there have been plenty more Gunners spending time in the treatment room and it must have had a serious affect on our chances of success.

The latest blow could spell the end for Arsenal in Europe this season, as our Brazilian centre back Gabriel has not recovered from his hamstring problem in time for the home leg against the holders Barcelona this week. In recent weeks Wenger has been playing Gabriel instead of Per Mertesacker alongside Koscielny and I am fairly sure that this was to get him up to speed for the Barca games.

So the injury update on Arsenal.com that reveals he will be out for the first leg at least is a massive blow. With his pace and La Liga experience the Brazilian was the ideal choice to face the pace and ability of the Spanish champions’ attack but now we have to hope that the BFG’s lack of pace and the inexperience of Calum Chambers are not too costly.

But will our latest bad injury luck see Arsenal heading out of the Champions League?

Tags Gabriel Mertesacker

11 Comments

  1. We all knew Gabriel will not be playing in this game when he was sighted in Brazil. I hope he will be back in time for the second leg.

    Hey, TH posing with those three guys of Barca on the eve of our match with them, is he trying to demoralize our boys? TH, get out of my mind. Past is past if the present is injurious.

    1. Sorry dude, latest official injuries up date from Arsene at Arsenal.com : Gabriel and Cazorla still out, and Willshere off course. Everyone else is available.
      We’ll sitting most of the games, waiting for quick counter, so BFG don’t have to go up front so often. But if he needs to and even in the half of court, those two fullback (Hector and Nacho) with Koscielny should provide him an extra cover. BFG surely make our hands full, but he’ll be useful in set pieces and any aerial ball. Person to miss : definitely Santi Cazorla. What to miss : Santi’s quick transition. He is our “Ozil from distance”.

  2. Wow when I saw the headline
    I thought Cech or Kos or Ozil!!!
    But it’s Gabriel. No problem.
    We have Chambers as well.
    Arsenal only have Cazorla of the top X1 missing.
    Cech
    Bellerin Kos Mertz Monreal
    Coq Elneny Sanchez Ozil (Ox?)
    Giroud.
    Bench:
    Ospina Chambers Gibbs Flamini
    Ramsey Walcott Campbell.

  3. This is what happens when Gabriel doesn’t play a single game for half a season and is all of a sudden made to play like he’s fully fit.

  4. Man you almost gave me a heart attack! Isn’t this old news? I don’t think anybody expected him to play.

  5. Stupid title and I was 100% sure it is click bait. Just came to say to the poster: grow up.
    PS: Gabriel is not a starter anyway. A bit like Chambers.

  6. I am hoping we don’t see the surprise of the boss playing Flamini with Coquelin in today’s match.. I will be gutted to see that. Elneny was super impressive in our Hull city game making some precise passes, always running forward and getting back on time to win tackles. Besides he has CL experience and I would prefer him over Ramsey in today’s game. My formation will be:
    Cech
    Belllerin Mert Kosc Monreal
    Elneny Coq
    campell Ozil Sanchez
    Welbeck

    1. I get where you are going, but I don’t think you can leave out Rambo. You could be really wacky and sub Welbeck and use Ramsey as a false 9. Personally, however, Giroud has been our proven goal scorer. He still has more goals than anyone else in our team at some point he has to come on in the game for me.

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