Arsenal are back on top of the table. The table of Premier League players on the injury list that is, according to physioroom.com. And the nine Arsenal players that they list as being out of action does not include Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry who are just back in training from long spells and wil surely not be fit to start against Hull on Saturday.
Also, the list does not include our French centre back Laurent Koscielny, who The Telegraph reports is going to take longer to recover from the tendonitis in his ankle. Add to that the fact our versatile 19-year old Calum Chambers has got himself suspended and the options for Arsene Wenger’s starting line up at the Emirates this weekend are severely limited.
In fact, the team almost picks itself, with Arteta said to be not quite ready, Flamini will start and Wilshere will be the box to box player, with Cazorla in the more advanced central midfield role. Welbeck and Alexis are also nailed on starters if fit, so the only choice really for the manager is whether to go with Oxlade-Chamberlain or Podolski on the left.
There is a small chance that Wenger could go for the more defensive Coquelin at right back but I very much expect the young Spaniard Bellerin to get the nod, so the only other real decision for Wenger is whether to play Monreal or Hayden alongside Mertesacker.
ThisArsenal team is still a pretty strong one, but the lack of options does make the Hull manager Steve Bruce’s job a whole lot easier as he prepares his team for the important clash. Do you think all the injuries and the suspensdion will end up costing us?
We have a quality team still despite our injury problems to beat hull at the emirates! But we still have to be wary not to take our opponents for granted, be focus, play well, and dont switch off! Come on gunners lets get 3 priceless points at the weekend! Coyg!
although not emotionally equivalent,
3 points v Hull are just as precious as 3 v Manc or chelsea
in fact , they are more gettable, so in a sense we should be more up for them.
The fans – yeah the fans who don’t have 25 years of experience managing a football club, and who have never led a team to a trophy – saw this coming didn’t they? Yeah, it might have been a freak injury, but which top club goes for the FA cup, Carling Cup (never mind), League and Champions league with only 2 senior centre backs?!
Goes looking for CB and DMF, at the last moments of window, then claims it was difficult to find them. Well ofcourse it will be, Other teams unless they have to or want to, won’t sell players in the last moments, because they won’t be able to find replacement in time, or they have their squad ready for the new season by then.
If koscielny isn’t fit and Chambers is suspended, who plays CB alongside Per? Isaac Hayden?
Wenger planned stinginess in the summer, when he apparently couldn’t find a CB, remember he played Monreal there in pre season matches, stupid I know.
Yes who is going to play alongside Per ? Who is going to cover his lack of pace, his hopeless positional sense,and his total inability to read the game. Without Kos to babysit I fear the very worst. Please, please watch him play, if you can. How can one man fool so many ? It seems if he doesn’t do anything, then he’s not doing anything wrong!
The injuries do Wenger a
favour. Like last season, who
is fit is in the match day squad.
Overall 1 – 27 are quite evenly
matched. So really it doesn’t matter
who plays v Hull we have a good
if not stellar side who can beat
any one except City and Chelsea.
So no worries.