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?