Following on the back of yet another draw for Arsenal, the trip to Belgium to face Anderlecht is a very important game for the Gunners. It gives us a great opportunity to bounce right back from the visit of Hull City on Saturday, but it also puts more pressure on Arsene Wenger and his injury depleted squad.
But although Arsenal are without Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Mathieu Debuchy, Yaya Sanogo and possibly Laurent Koscielny, the man who might replace the French centre back does not think that we can use the long injury list as any excuse for a failure to get the right result on the pitch.
A Sky Sports reveals that Nacho Monreal believes that Arsenal have a strong enough and talented enough squad to cope with problems like this and feels that it is up tyo the Gunners that are fit, including himself, to get the job done. The Spaniard does accept that we have had some real bad luck so far this season with the players that have picked up injuries, but he is determined to do whatever is asked of him to help the club get past it.
Monreal said, “The Champions League is THE competition for club teams.
“Injuries are a handicap to us but if we do want to go through we are going to need everyone playing at the top of their game.
“We will not use injuries as an excuse. The squad is 24 or 25 players and the rest of the squad has to come in and maintain our level. We won’t use it as an excuse.
“I haven’t played much as a central defender, I’m naturally more of a left-back, but if the manager wants me to play there, I would do my best.
“Injuries affect all teams but we have had some bad luck. Many of our important players are out and that obviously has an impact.”
The champions of Belgium are no pushovers, obviously, but they were well beaten at home by Borussia Dortmund in the last group game and Arsenal must do the same, injuries or not. Is Monreal right not to use injuries as an excuse?