Just when it looks like Arsenal have caught a break for a change, like when PSG messed up their final game in the Champions League group stage to let Arsenal steal in and finish on top, lady luck remembers that Arsene Wenger is on her hit list and she strikes back, such as giving us the German champions Bayern Munich as a reward for topping the group.
So on the eve of the first leg against Bayern in Germany, Arsenal were handed the boost, reported by Metro, that the Bundesliga side had been hit with an injury to one of their key players Xabi Alonso.
That good news was swiftly followed by the bad news in another Metro report that the Gunners had suffered an injury blow of our own, to the Spanish striker Lucas Perez. Typical. The 28-year old forward sat out training with an ankle problem and is almost certain to miss the big clash with Bayern.
Which of these injury problems will have the biggest effect though? The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfield star has been a key figure for Bayern this season, starting 17 of their 20 league games. He is their lynchpin in central midfield and sets the tempo for their play so we can hope that his absence will be a big blow.
But despite the fact that Lucas has been a fringe player for the Gunners so far, I am concerned about losing him. He did score a hat=trick against Basel in our last European outing and he has become one of the players the boss turns to in times of trouble.
There was also a theory that Wenger might drop the struggling Ozil for this game but losing the Spaniard decreases the options if we ware to do that, so his injury could have a big impact and we are, as usual, already missing key players like Cazorla and Ramsey.
Which do you think will prove to be the most telling injury?
Bob.