Just when it was looking like the injury tide was turning in the favour of Arsenal, with Theo Walcott and then Olivier Giroud coming back to full training with the squad and the hope of Laurent Koscielny coming back after the international break. And we seemed to have got away with no injury problems from this latest break, while tomorrow’s opponents Man United were dropping like flies.
Yeah right, as if Arsenal are going to be that lucky! United’s in form Spanish keeper David De Gea has miraculously recovered from a dislocated finger while Angel Di Maria has also been passed fit to play and they could also have a few of their first choice defenders back, with Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Rafael all possible returnees.
At least we are doing okay though, right? Wrong, because Arsene Wenger has today revealed that Theo Walcott has picked up a groin strain while training with England, the Daily Mail reports. And the former United forward Danny Welbeck may not be able to face his old club after all. The slight hamstring problem he got during the friendly game against Scotland is still a worry and he will have to face a late fitness test to see if he can play tomorrow.
Yes Giroud is available but the Frenchman will be rusty after a few months out. And Alexis Sanchez has only just got back from South America so could be suffering from jet lag or fatigue. And the news on Koscielny is a blow as well, with the French defender slowly getting back into training but the Arsenal medical staff taking it very slowly as they cannot say whether he is really over the tendonitis in his ankle.
So it looks like Monreal at centre back again against a powerful United attack, while their defence is strengthened and our own attack weakened. Now I am getting worried. How about you?
Arsenal will win 🙂
If arsenal mistakenly loose Wenger’s ass will be on fire…..even a draw will b bad
well Men UTD have injury to too Danni Blint and Angle Di Marie. BATTLES OF INJURIES, Arsenal to win!!!
Angel Di Maria is sure to play!
They do have Jones, Rafael, Rojo, Blind and Falcao out. Carrick and Shaw are a doubt.
We have Walcott, Koscielny, Debuchy, Özil out. Welbeck and Sanchez in doubt.
We could win with ease if we would maintain our level but we never do against United. Without Sanchez we won’t , that’s for sure.
Don’t mean nada. Look at how we played the depleted Swansea squad last match. Only thing going for us is that we are at the Emirates.
I expect us to beat man utd well.. 3-1 would be perfect. Welbeck scoring 1 and not celebrating and sanchez scoring 2 and removing his shirt after his second goal. If we don’t win , then wenger needs to just go. One of the things that hurt me most last season was the fact that we could not beat man utd even though others were able to.
It always bothered me that we can’t beat a weak Manu. Hope wenger pulls something out his new jacket and changes lagging line up. Please no cazola on wing he does not track back EFFECTIVELY, hes lost come defense time. And Ox better start to compete wit di Maria pace simple.
One thing we will see is monreal a cb,i dont know why wenger does not trust bellerin at rb because the kid when ever he plays he always deliver
For the life of me I don’t understand why Jenkinson would be sent out on loan if Bellerin isn’t trusted to play. I feel so sorry for 5′ 8″ Monreal, he was making improvements at lb. Please, please Wenger, trust Bellerin and put Chambers in the middle tomorrow.
he’s 5’10.
But you have a good point. Wenger shouldn’t have sold Jenkinson if he didn’t trust Bellerin. Nacho is mostly gonna start at CB though tomorrow.
With our new injury problems, this is probably the lineup Wenger will put out tomorrow.
__________Sanogo
Podolski Cazorla Oxlade-Chamberlain
_______Arteta Wilshere
Gibbs Monreal Mertesacker Chambers
_________Szczesny
Subs: Campbell, Ramsey, Flamini, Bellerin, Akpom, Martinez, Rosicky
[insert multiple swear words here]
Ha ha. I’m sure you know that’s exactly what’s gonna happen 😛 Our team is that poor, and most of our players are out of form.
so true @twig. That’s why i’m expecting the worst, but still hoping for the best. [takes another shot of whiskey]
“BIG Arsenal problems! Walcott out, Welbeck a doubt and NO Koscielny!”
Well nothing new with that,, business as usual at Arsenal.
I hope we win (I don’t think we will), because Man United are not in the best shape.
Last season Man United were not great either and we still could not manage a win (loss and a draw).
I think just the “name” of the team is enough for them to get a result against us.
Anyway we are so predictable and it gets easier for teams from top to bottom.
Sanchez is the only one capable of bringing something creative and “flair wise” to change the mood of the game.
Without Sanchez God knows where we would be.
Wenger will align Wilshere in the middle and the midfield will be wide open again…!!
The most mind boggling thing is why Wenger doesn’t play Bellerin RB and Chambers CB. If we play the way we’ve been playing for this month against the likes of Anderlecht and Swansea, we are in for a defeat.
@Ras911
Thank you mate, spot on…
I don’t think it is difficult to place players in their rightful position.
He cannot even do that, trying to be somehow “creative” with his “little” squad.
Chambers was Montero “bitch” for the all game…!!
Bellerin, at least, would have made it difficult with his pace… And he is a hungry boy with something to prove.
@LoCkAy, exactly. Chambers got outpaced so easily by Montero and sometimes looks more comfortable at CB. Sometimes i feel like Wenger just tries to prove a point. As if after so many people complained about players being out of position he just said” Watch us win with players playing in random spots”
I’ve been pessimistic for weeks, but I’m gonna pull a @greg and put forth an optimistic comment.
There is one hope you guys. Heart. We gotta show heart. If all of our Gunners gives it their all tomorrow like we did repeatedly last season, we will shock the world (myself included) and beat Manchester United for the first time in years. So coyg. Let’s do it.
Win, loose or draw still #AW out!!! Come on boyz lets do this saturday.#Coyg
Theo Walcott is so weak, he should try a different sport
True
I dont want to imagine what terrific outcome it would be if we where to lose the tomorrows game. Nothing gives me more shame then losing to manure, and nothing gives me joy more then beating them. ( and i cant remember the last time we beat them).
“Wenger out” banner must start tomorrow. Don’t raise ur hope we can’t beat man u not wit asene.
I heard Wenger is a guest rapper on a better tomorrow by Wu Tang