With all the injury problems that have plagued our club in recent years, the Arsenal fans are very well schooled in what damage an injury or a string of injuries can do to a team. Often it has been the timing of these problems as much as the injuries themselves that causes so much trouble, but the latest injury to our French midfield star Francis Coquelin could hardly have come at a better time and should not cause the Gunners any major problem.
When Coquelin did his knee ligament at West Brom last season it left Arsene Wenger with a serious selection headache as there was no Arteta and we had not yet signed Elneny. This time is different because the boss can turn to Granit Xhaka with Elneny as a back up and there is an international break coming up anyway. For now Wenger has the perfect chance to let Xhaka show what he can do.
It is unfortunate for Coquelin as he was in a good run of form and was starting regular games but this is why a club like Arsenal needs a good squad. At least the Frenchman knows that Wenger appreciates him and that he will be given more chances when fit again.
Hopefully that will not be too long and to be honest I think that he may not have been starting as many games for the next month or so. Not only is there an international break but our games are against lesser teams like Ludogorets, Burnley, Sunderland, Reading and Middlesborough and the combative talents of Coquelin are not as necessary in games like this.
What we could do with, however, is for the 25-year old to be fit and ready to play by November because we then have a three game run against Tottenham, Man United and PSG. So as long as the knee injury does not turn out to be a big one, I think this injury is one that should not affect Arsenal and our trophy chances too much.
Bob.