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?