Injury update in Arsenal’s pre-season!
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has already had to give his first injury update of the new season and we’ve only had one pre-season game. The Gunners didn’t sustain any injuries as a result of the first pre-season match against Lens, however there were a few first team regulars who were absent due to either injury or an extended holiday.
The biggest name to miss out is Alexis Sanchez, who despite having sustained his ankle injury almost a month ago, still hasn’t recovered enough to begin training with Arsenal again. Alexis picked up the injury after Chile’s successful win over Argentina to win the Copa America back on the 27th June. It was originally anticipated the injury was nothing more than a badly swollen ankle and with a bit of rest and a few ice packs, it was expected Alexis would make a quick recovery. A month later and we are still awaiting official news on the extent of the 27 year old’s injury.
Wenger was quick to say ahead of the Gunner’s next fixture in the USA, that Alexis’ injury isn’t anything to worry about, but that he will not be fully fit for a while yet. Wenger said: ‘Alexis will not go because he had an ankle injury. That is not too bad but I will leave him behind.’
Let’s hope Alexis makes a speedy recovery and has some kind of pre-season to get match fit for the opener against Liverpool, because with so many first team stars unlikely to make the cut in time for the first game of the season, it’s very important that we have the Chilean to utilise on the pitch.
Other first team players that could miss the majority, if not all of pre-season, are the likes of Ozil, Giroud, Koscielny and Ramsey. Gabriel also misses out on the pre-season tour of America due to tonsillitis. Let’s hope all Gunners return to fitness in time for the start of the season!
By AH