West Brom must really be relishing playing Arsenal tomorrow lunchtime. Not only have the Gunners had to play a crucial midweek Champions League match while the Baggies have had a weeks rest since losing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but it looks like Arsenal are down to the bare bones of their squad.
For starters in goal Wojciech Szczesny is out with a pelvis injury, and with David Ospina not expected to be back until next year, we are going to have to hope that Martinez has another assured performance between the sticks and that is just the first problem!
Wenger’s team news this morning makes for grim reading. He reported: “I will have to check this morning how available everybody is. Szczesny (pelvis) has not practiced yet at all. Arteta is out for sure of course and I think Sanogo (cramp) has problems as well because I had to take him off. We have a few other players that we have to check.”
“Danny Welbeck will have a test this morning. He has not practiced yet. I can’t tell you at the moment if he’s okay.”
“Arteta has now had a calf problem for the third time. It’s always a small grade one but it’s minimum two to three weeks.”
“Theo is not okay for the weekend, he has an inflamed groin coming back from England and has not been available since. He will not be available for this game, nor Wednesday.”
Other than that everythings okay! Well not really, as Wilshere, Diaby, Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Debuchy are still long term problems, BUT Wenger did have one bit of good news. When asked about Laurent Koscielny, he replied: “He is well. If I want him to start, he will start.”
What does he mean if he wants him to start? Surely Wenger doesn’t have than many players left to choose from!