Normally Arsenal fans are used to getting extra injuries when there is an international break, but just for once it seems the tables have turned in our favour.
The Gunners have a daunting opening Champions League game away at Borussia Dortmund in eight days time, but we have been given a boost by the fact that Marco Reus has sustained an ankle injury in Germany’s 2-1 win over Scotland last night, and is now likely to miss the match against Arsenal.
The youngster, who has been rumoured to be a target for Arsene Wenger for over a year, already missed out on his country’s World Cup win due to an injury to the same ankle, although the Germany boss Joachim Low is reserving judgement until further tests have been carried out.
“Reus turned his ankle again and it is the same one as the one against Armenia,” Loew told reporters.
“Initial diagnosis suggests it may not be as bad as before the World Cup. But we will have to wait for more checks.”
Much as don’t like to gloat when our big opponents lose important players, Arsenal will take any advantage they can get before the gruelling run of matches coming up for the rest of this month, starting with Manchester City this weekend, swiftly followed by the visit to Germany.
Dortmund and Arsenal are the two favourites to progress from this group, but a win in Germany will make us hot favourites to finish top of the group for a change, and Reus’ absence will be a little boost ahead of the game.