No manager could possibly have planned for the amount if injuty problems that Arsenal have had to cope with already this season. We thought that last year was bad, but so far it is shaping up to be an even heavier injury list for Arsene Wenger to deal with.
Aaron Ramsey this week became the latest Gunner to head for the Arsenal treatment room and his little hamstring tweak could hardly have come at a worse time for him and us. Not only was the young Welshman just rediscovering his form of last season and starting to find the net again, with Arteta and Wilshere already out, it leaves our central midfield looking paper thin.
But somehow the Gunners keep managing to cope. With Monreal, Chambers, Bellerin and now Debuchy, Wenger has somehow managed to keep a back four on the pitch, although it has been touch and go at times. Those problems seem to be easing at last and that might actually help our midfield situation as well.
It looks like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be the direct replacement for Rambo and the young England international looked like he could do the job very well for us. And after the game against Liverpool next weekend, we should have Arteta back. But that still leaves us short for the festive fixtures and maybe that means that Wenger will give Chambers a chance to show what he can do as a defensive midfielder.
He has played there before for Southampton and the 19-year old has great ability and adaptability. We also have Francis Coquelin back from his loan deal, so Flamini and the Ox will soon have enough cover to get us through until the new year at least. Then hopefully Wenger will have no choice but to sign a player or two.
So are the Gunners going to be alright despite this injury nightmare?