Arsene Wenger has given the latest round-up of the Arsenal injury situation in his pre-match press conference ahead of the FA cup fourth round match away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday. We should be used to this by now I suppose, but it would be nice just for once to not lose another player or two every time the Gunners play.
This time, as revealed on the official Arsenal website, it is our young Spanish right back Hector Bellerin and the England international star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain that have picked up knocks and may not be able to feature this weekend. There is more chance of the Spaniard being available and that would be a big relief with Debuchy already on the sidelines.
Wenger said, “We have some uncertainties about Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bellerin but they will have tests today and Bellerin should be available. Oxlade-Chamblerlain, I’m not sure.
“Oxlade-Chamberlain has an inflammation of his groin problems and Bellerin is an ankle problem.
“Gnabry is back in full training but he needs games in the under-21s because he’s been out for a very long time. He looks quite promising again physically, and fitness-wise he is okay.
“Danny is still out. I think he will need two more games to be back again. He’s not in full training yet.
“[Bielik has] only just come from Poland. He has just turned 17, is not fit because they had a winter break in Poland and that is quite long. He’s at the start of getting back to full fitness. He won’t be ready before three weeks.
“[Diaby] is still injured. At the moment he is not in a position where he will be able to play soon because he is not on the field at all.”
So good news on Gnabry and hope for Bellerin but even if he is fit, that still leaves Arsene Wenger having to cope without seven first team players and this is when things are supposed to have improved on the injury front. At least we do have options and the absent Gunners will hopefully not be missed too badly.
The trip to Brighton also gives the boss a good opportunity to play some of the players that have previously been missing, with Ozil, Ramsey and Walcott all needing the game time. We need a win as well though and the home team are in decent form and are coming off the back of a very good win over promotion chasing Ipswich Town.
Do you think Arsenal’s ongoing injury problems could cost us in the cup?