I am not trying to absolve Arsene Wenger of all the blame for what looks like being a most frustrating Premier League title challenge for Arsenal this season, as the unfancied Leicester seem to be the ones that will make the most of the poor performances of the usual suspects Man City, Chelsea and Man United, but you have to admit that the Frenchman has had some pretty rotten luck with injury problems once again, while Claudio Ranieri has been able to name his strongest 11 players in almost every match.
Our local rivals Tottenham have also been blessed with very few injuries to cope with while Wenger has been forced to do without big Arsenal players like Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck and now Petr Cech and Aaron Ramsey for lengthy spells. We are still waiting to find out for sure the extent of the Welshman’s lay-off but it is not looking good.
As reported by Sky Sports, however, there is some positive news on that front for the Gunners. It did seem that the FA cup replay with Hull City had left Arsenal with almost no defenders for the next couple of games but today the boss was at least able to reassure us there.
Wenger said, “Mertesacker and Gabriel are very positive, there is nothing wrong there, they are both good.”
So it appears that Arsenal will not have to field a makeshift and second string back four against Watford in the FA cup quarter final and even if the Frenchman wants to give Gabriel a bit more time he has the reliable Monreal to fill in and Gibbs to come in at left back.
Of course we really want our best centre back Laurent Koscielny back in action, especially for the Premier League run in which has left us with no room for error, and the prof was also able to give us good news on his fellow Frenchman, even though he will not be ready for the cup game on Sunday.
On Koscielny, “He [Koscielny] is not far, he will have tests until Sunday, but it could come too soon. He has a little chance.”
Yes and if we have the boss back at the heart of the defence, will Arsenal still have a little chance of the title?
what arsenal have done this season is unforgivable, i suspect heads will role in the summer.
That can only be judged at the end of May – We could still easily finish in the top 2 & win the FA Cup, would that really be such a bad season??
yes, second place is the first place loser
I’m more confident with nacho monreal at left back!
A very speedy recovery to you “boscielny”! Coyg!
Please stop calling Ramsey a big player, a big player could have been able to put Carzola ‘s shoes but like we notice is incapable to do so .a one season wonder player, I don’t know if you watch the game against spuds he failed out with Alexis Sanchez, he irritate every body.
Two seasons ago everyone said exactly the opposite when Ramsey injury put a dent in our midfield. Back then everyone was lamenting Ramsey absence and the fact that Cazorla can’t play Ramsey role.
Where I agree with you is that Wenger should have left Ramsey exactly where he started him (with the risk of frustrating Campbell and Walcott) the season, on the flank with license to drive in the middle. He is able to put huge work rate (hence the frequent injuries) and able to provide defensive cover from the position he finds himself in on the break. Playing Ramsey on the right flank would have been a logical solution because this position is having quite some cover in the team (Campbell and even Walcott). Leave Giroud and Walcott to fight for the striker position or even switch with Sanchez.
Now is too late, sometimes I wonder how Wenger is taking decisions in building the team for the next game because I simply don’t understand them.
Listen fellas, no fa cup glory in the world can errase the humulating fact that we missed winning the epl this year. Its just that the epl decided to hand it over to us, but we said no, bec we are true to our self in securing the 4th place trophy. or the cl qualification trophy.
we are so humble its rlly adorable.
Hey fanboy, the bundesliga doesnt look so poor how you made it out to bee? Not sure if Bvb is playing very impressive with an striker who brings ours to shame, or they where playing against a poor team in spurs. what do you think
Arsenal’s EPL game
v WBA is postponed so
one assumes we will slip back
to 4th when City play Norwich.
Leicester can go 11 points clear of us and Spurs 6 points in front
should they beat Newcastle and Aston Villa respectively.
The week following we play Everton and if we do not win and
our competitors pick up points we will be out of the EPL race.
In between times we play another giant team in
the FA cup the mighty Watford and in all probability
go out to Barca in the 2nd leg at the Nou Camp.
Then after Everton it is the international fortnight.
Four weeks with one EPL game, a slow torturous path.
The one bright spot is that the break
should mean the return of some injured players
unless of course we get more injuries v Watford and Barca.
how could we lose to manure, wow