This time it seems to be even worse for Arsenal Football Club and Arsene Wenger, as the manager’s hopes of building on the battering we handed out to Gatalatasaray in Turkey and bouncing back in the Premier League after the horror show at Stoke have taken a massive blow.
Despite being able to rest a few key players for the trip to Istanbul, Wenger is faced with yet another injury crisis and the possibility that his depleted squad will include just one first choice centre back in Per Mertesacker.
Sky Sports have reported the latest injury update from the Arsenal boss and it is nothing short of a disaster, with Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal seemingly out of contention for the visit of Newcastle United on Saturday evening. With young Calum Chambers also suspended, it leaves Wenger scratching his head and with serious problems fielding a decent back four.
Wenger said, “Our main problems are still defensively because Koscielny looks like he will not be quite ready, Monreal is not back and Chambers is suspended.”
We do have Kieran Gibbs fit to play at left back and the return of Mathieu Debuchy on the right could not have come at a better time, but who can Wenger choose to partner the BFG in the middle?
Isaac Hayden would normally be the choice from the academy but he is only just back in training after his own injury. Then you have maybe Semi Ajayi of Stefan O’Connor with very limited experience. There is not much room for shuffling either and dropping Flamini back because of Arteta’s injury.
It’s a tough one for Wenger to sort out that is for sure. What would you do?