Should Arsenal fans worry about the injury to Sokratis?

I did a full Arsenal injury update at the weekend and it all seemed very positive at the time, but i must have jinxed it because the very next day Sky News reported that Sokratis had to be replaced with an ankle injury.

Sky reported this….

Arsenal have a new injury concern ahead of their Monday Night Football clash with Leicester next week after centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos was injured playing for Greece.

Sokratis came off at half-time in the 2-1 defeat to Finland on Monday with what appeared to be an ankle problem, and becomes a doubt ahead of the Leicester clash at the Emirates

The fact is that he will have a week to recover and will probably be fit, but would he even play against Leicester? Since Sokratis came off with his last injury against Everton, Rob Holding came in and has done an admirable job alongside Mustafi and we have actually had our first three clean sheets of the season.

I think that if Sokratis is fit, he should not put Holding back on the bench, but I wouldn’t mind if he replaced Mustafi!

Darren N

18 Comments

  1. Too bad because he is Arsenal’s best CB currently. But it should be okay because Arsenal will play at home, where the pressure would be less for Mustafi and Holding

    1. Think he’s due back in training at the end of the month Andrew. I’d love to see him & Sokratis together! What a pairing that would be ?

  2. That’s a pisser… I hope it isn’t too serious. That’ll be a shame if he has to miss Monday night, although Holding has done well when called upon

  3. In theory that sounds like a good call. The thing is though the clean sheets have come with these two CB’s in the side and we know how important relationships are on the pitch. Sokratis looked the better compared to Mustafi for the most part. It might not be that simple though. For fans choices are always in the most simplest of terms, but there’s allot to management that we will never understand. That’s not to say you’re wrong though, its just that football can be a bit funny sometimes.

  4. Great shame , esp if it means the hopeless Mustafi starts instead. Mustafi is rubbish. But we have three decent CB/s in Holding, Sokratis(when fit ) and Mavrop (also when fit) . Plus the half forgotten man in Kos to come back, IF he ever makes it back as he once was. A big IF too!

  5. Leicester are no soft meats but could turnout to be hard ones inborn the game for Arsenal to chew and swallow them on Monday night at the Ems in the PL. This is a home PL match we are talking about in which beating Leicester should not be taking for granted by Arsenal. Therefore, the ankle injury to Sokratis is a concern at the Arsenal centrebacks pairing in an expected will be a hard fought match against Leicester. With the CBs of Koscielny and Mavropanos out of reckoning for this match. Arsenal are left with only Mustafi and Holding as the only recognised CBs pairing for the match. But where the problem will come is if there is no recognised CB as substitute on the bench to cover for Mustafi and Holding. Which if one of duo CBs of Mustafi or Holding has to be withdrawn from the match or God forbids is red carded and Sokratis is not on the bench, Emery could be forced to drag Monreal to play as a CB while he’ll bring on Kolasinac from the bench to replace Monreal at LB.

    Guys, how do you people see this logical rearrangement that I proffered for the should in case?

    1. Haven’t been overly impressed with Lichtsteiner… some have said he’s probably rusty as he’s not used to being on the bench. Bellerin would rather attack than defend, his crossing of the ball has improved, he’s assisting, he’s fast & I do believe it’s only a matter of time before he scores. Emery obviously likes him!

      1. Lichtsteiner is a far better defender than bellerin but in emery system Right back is also a winger, provides width and crosses. Bellerin is one of the best at that role.

  6. We have a poor defense compared to the top teams especially at CB and RB.
    I Think Torreira and Guendouzi has helped our defense a lot.

    Sokratis has been surprisingly good after a dodgy start. Better than Mustafi imo
    I think I prefer Sokratis and Holding from our CBs
    Haven’t seen much from Mavrapanos

  7. Holding is developing into a commanding, composed centre back and along with young Mav they could be an outstanding pairing for years to come.

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