Arsenal fans and Arsene Wenger have never been very comfortable about our star players heading off on international duty at crucial points during the season and we have good reason. Many has been the time when we have lost a Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere or Abou Diaby to injury when the national coaches have not listened to the Arsenal boss and played our players a lot more than Wenger would have done himself.
But it is something we have to accept as there is little that can be done about it. Or is there? The Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers seems to have found a way, as a report in The Mirror revealed that their young star Raheem Sterling is set to be allowed to miss the friendly game between England and Italy next Tuesday. There is some talk of a toe injury but the fact that Sterling is set to play the Euro qualifier on Friday makes that sound like a lame excuse.
Liverpool have already withdrawn Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge, who I suspect will make a miraculous recovery in time to face Arsenal at the Emirates in the early kick-off next Saturday. It hardly seems fair and I would be having a little word if I was Wenger. As long as the Gunners win that game there will be no problem, but what if one or all of the three `injured´ Liverpool players makes the difference?