Per Mertesacker has been ruled out for the rest of the Premier League campaign, having had to have been taken off during the weekend’s tie with Norwich City.
Arsenal recently reported back with a full squad to choose from, but that is no longer the case going into the match with Manchester City this weekend. Centre-back Per Mertesacker has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, as confirmed by Arsene Wenger.
“From the squad that played against Norwich last Saturday, we have lost Per Mertesacker,” the Frenchman said.
“Per is out for the remaining two matches with a hamstring injury. Everyone else from last week’s squad is fit and available for selection.”
The German is not the first player that we have lost thanks to playing against the Canaries this season however, having lost three players following our encounter with Norwich City in November.
Laurent Koscielny lasted less than 15 minutes of the previous match-up, while Alexis Sanchez could only manage an hour. Arsene Wenger was blamed for overplaying the Chilean however, but it is easy to point the finger at their opponents also.
Santi Cazorla finished the match, but was said to have finished the game ‘on one leg’, and is only nearing a first-team return from that injury at present.
The Spaniard managed to get through an hour of football for the Under-21 side early this week, and could be in line for a start this Saturday, with a possible win confirming our place within the top three, as well as giving us a chance of beating Tottenham to second in the table.
Are Norwich to blame for reducing our squad numbers this season?