The Gunners are aiming for their fifth Premier League victory on the bounce against West Brom on Saturday at the Emirates. Remember that the Baggies took four points from two matches against us last season, so it would be unwise to underestimate Roy Hodgson’s side.
Injury News
Kieran Gibbs and Marouane Chamakh will miss this match, as well as the players on the long-term injury list (Wilshere, Diaby, Sagna). Arsene Wenger is hopeful that Gibbs and Chamakh will be able to return after the international break, which is next week.
West Brom will be without striker Shane Long and midfielder Paul Scharner due to injury. Long is dangerous and has a lot of pace, so he will be a big miss for the Baggies.
Key Battles
Peter Odemwingie
Peter Odemwingie v Thomas Vermaelen: Odemwingie scored twice against us last season, and West Brom will need him to be productive. Vermaelen has recently returned from his injury, and it will be interesting to see how he deals with the pace of Odemwingie.
Aaron Ramsey v Youssouf Mulumbu: Assuming both players start, this could be a very important battle. Ramsey was fantastic at the Bridge but struggled against Marseille mid-week. Mulumbu is an effective holding midfielder who will certainly pressure Ramsey when he is on the ball. How Ramsey deals with this pressure will be telling.
Robin van Persie v West Brom: The Baggies are going to need all eleven players to hold down the Dutchman. Van Persie is in the form of his life. Roy [...]
Carl Jenkinson will miss two to three weeks due to the knee injury he suffered on Wednesday night. Johan Djourou is the likely candidate to fill in at right back, and he said that he is ready the challenge.
According to The Guardian and other sources, Carl Jenkinson will be out for two or three weeks. The 19-year old hobbled off the pitch at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday night. Arsene Wenger had this to say about the injury (from Arsenal.com):
“We don’t know yet but it is very unlikely he will be available for Sunday. He is having a scan and we will know some time on Friday.”
Johan Djourou replaced Jenkinson against Marseille, and it was Djourou’s cross that found Aaron Ramsey for the winning goal. But Djourou was awful at right back against Blackburn. The 24-year old defender believes he is up to the task of playing on the right (from The Guardian):
“I am a centre-back first … I love my game, I love playing football and when I can play, it’s a relief. So if I have to play right-back to help the team, then I will do it. It worked out against Marseille because I played the final ball for the goal. But I just want to play football.
“I have played a few times before at right-back and it’s a completely different game. When you play centre-back you can see the whole game in front of you but when you’re on the wing, you have [...]
Derby day is upon us again as the Gunners travel to White Hart Lane. Spurs are the favourites heading into the match, but Arsene Wenger’s squad have won their last three games. Emmaneul Adebayor will most likely (definitely) play an important part in the match on Sunday.
Injury News: Laurent Koscielnly is very doubtful to play, while Theo Walcott and Gervinho will have fitness tests on Saturday or Sunday to determine their fate. Arsene Wenger said that Sebastien Squillaci is healthy but not match fit. Another phantom injury to keep a mediocre player out of a match.
Speaking of phantom injuries, there is absolutely no chance that Manuel Almunia will make an appearance at White Hart Lane. Almunia has seemingly been collecting his cash this season and doing little else. The Spanish keeper has been sent to West Ham on loan for one month. Gooners around the world are dancing in the streets.
Our old friend Emmanuel Adebayor has a new kit. This season the emotional striker will be playing in the despicable all-white shirt. Every Arsenal supporter remembers when Adebayor ran the length of the pitch after scoring for Manchester City.
Adebayor has issued an apology to Arsenal fans for that celebration, but he will not hesitate to score (from ESPN): “What happened two years ago was an accident and I do apologise to all the fans of Arsenal. Sometime the emotions, we cannot control them, we are all human beings. I regret what [...]
Wilshere posted this picture on his Twitter account after the surgery.
Jack Wilshere is set to miss “four or five months” after undergoing ankle surgery. He sent out a message to Gooners after the surgery.
The 19-year old midfielder’s recovery will take “four or five months” according to Arsenal.com. His ankle surgery on Monday was successful. Wilshere wanted to notify his fans of his status (from Arsenal.com):
“I’ve had my operation this morning and all went well. My ankle is little bit sore, but I’m already looking forward to working hard to get fit and playing again.
“I would also just like to say thanks for the many messages of support I have received from you – the fantastic Arsenal supporters. See you all soon at the Emirates.”
I am starting to wonder whether we will see Jack on the pitch this season. At first, his injury was deemed fairly minor. A month or two seems to be added to his recovery time daily, and Arsene Wenger will not want to see Wilshere’s career tarnished by injuries. Maybe Wenger and the medical staff give Wilshere a year off and start fresh next season.
Most are predicting that Jack will return in late Feburary or early April. It is possible that he could provide a boost for the next North London derby on 25 February. Wenger and his squad will face Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
In other injury news, Theo Walcott will not feature on Wednesday night [...]
Jack Wilshere will undergo ankle surgery on Monday after disappointing test results this week. Wilshere will be missing until the end of the year.
Arsenal announced late on Friday night that Wilshere will have surgery on Monday. A report on Arsenal.com said about the length of recovery: “Wilshere is now expected to be out for a period of months. Following surgery these timescales will become more specific.”
A Club spokesman told Arsenal.com: “We have given Jack time to heal naturally which is important wherever possible with a young player. The latest scans show surgery is needed. Everyone at the Club wishes Jack a speedy recovery.”
The recovery has not yet been “speedy”, and I do not expect it to get “speedy” anytime soon. Based on recent history, the Arsenal medical team is terrible at handling injuries. Until there is a change made in the medical department, expect minor injuries to turn into moderate injuries, and moderate injuries to turn into major or severe problems.
Wilshere sent out two Twitter messages about the new developments: “been in a boot for a month and the bone is not responding. i will have surgery on my right ankle on monday with the two best surgeons around.” [sic]
“hopefully i will return to action around christmas time. i am in good hands! thanks for your support everyone!” [sic] Many Gooners have been saying that everything would be fine once Jack returned. Now, with Wilshere out at least three more months, Arsenal supporters, including [...]
Arsenal look to continue their run of results, while Blackburn boss Steve Kean is under pressure from supporters. Kean admires Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal philosophy, while Christopher Samba wants Blackburn to make life a “living hell” for the Gunners.
Injury News: Arsene Wenger revealed on Thursday that Aaron Ramsey could be available on Saturday (from Arsenal.com): “Ramsey had a little test today [Thursday] and will practice tomorrow, he has a little chance to be available.” Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen, and Jack Wilshere will miss the match.
Alex Song and Gervinho will make their Premier League returns after both players received a three-match ban after the Newcastle game. Song was impressive against Dortmund. He provides great protection for the back four as a holding midfielder.
The early kickoff will be another chance for the new boys to shine. Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker should definitely make Wenger’s starting eleven. I suspect that Yossi Benayoun will fill in for Ramsey.
Blackburn have had their worst start to a season in the Premier League era, but so have Arsenal. Before the match at Ewood Park, some supporters will hold a protest against manager Steve Kean. Blackburn are bottom of the table with only a point from their first four matches. Arsene Wenger said he believes that Kean deserves more time (from The Guardian):
“I have a lot of sympathy for Steve Kean. He is a young manager and you want to give him time to do his job.
“A lot of time you complain the British managers [...]
Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will return to training next month after suffering from an inflamed tendon in his left ankle. This is the same injury kept Vermaelen off the pitch last season.
According to Arsenal.com, Vermaelen will begin training again in October. After consulting with top specialists, Arsenal decided to have the inflamed tendon surgically removed. Last January, the 25-year old Belgian centre-half had the exact same procedure on his other ankle.
Vermaelen’s father told Sporza: ”The doctor in Stockholm, where Thomas was operated on last time too, recognised the problem now.
“He would not take any chances and immediately operated on Thomas. He expects five to six weeks of unavailability.”
Hopefully, Vermaelen does not have a repeat of last season, when he missed a majority of the campaign. New signing Per Mertesacker will have to wait to form his partnership with Vermaelen. Djourou or Koscielny, if either stays healthy, will need to step up.
In the last few days, Jack Wilshere and Thomas Vermaelen have fallen to injuries. Wilshere will have sit out for three months due to a right ankle problem.
The Arsenal medical staff have come under criticism from some Gooners due to the injury rate at the Emirates. Questions do need to be asked. Is Wenger’s training regimen too physically demanding for the players? Are the medical staff doing their jobs correctly? Or is this just a terrible string of bad luck?
Jack Wilshere could be out until December. Arsenal want the 19-year old midfielder fully fit before he returns to the pitch.
According to Daily Mirror, Jack Wilshere’s right ankle problem could see him miss three months. Wilshere sustained the injury in June while playing for England in a match against Switzerland.
Arsenal will let Wilshere rest his foot in a surgical boot until mid-October, when he is set to begin training again. If the pain is still there, he may need a screw inserted into his ankle. If this happens, Wilshere will not be back until December.
Arsene Wenger and his staff will take the situation slowly. They do not want to rush Wilshere back onto the pitch before he is ready. Wenger also does not want Wilshere’s right ankle injury to linger on for months. Arsenal want Wilshere %100 pain-free before he plays again.
Jack Wilshere is such an important part of this squad. It is sad, in a way, that a 19-year old midfielder is relied on so much. But he is just that talented, and the Gunners really could have used him after gaining only one point through their first three Premier League matches.
No one wants to see Wilshere’s bright future jeoprodised by injury, and that is why the Arsenal management are searching for answers. They are consulting the top specialists in the world for advice on how to handle the ankle injury.
Arsene Wenger may have had Wilshere’s nagging right ankle in mind when he signed Mikel Arteta and [...]
Arsene Wenger's squad face a tough test on Sunday.
Arsenal will be without several key players as they travel to Old Trafford. Alex Ferguson complimented Arsene Wenger this week, but he also said he would not let Manchester United struggle the way that the Gunners have in recent years.
Gervinho (suspension), Emmanuel Frimpong (suspension), Jack Wilshere (injury), Alex Song (suspension), Abou Diaby (injury), and Kieran Gibbs (injury) will miss the trip to Manchester. Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen could be fit to face United. Arsene Wenger gave an update on the two centre-backs on Friday (from Arsenal.com):
“Vermaelen has a test on Saturday and Koscielny had a positive fitness test today. There is a little doubt about Vermaelen but he should be alright.”
Johan Djourou, meanwhile, will be able to play for the Gunners. Vermaelen is desperately needed for this match. He was excellent against Liverpool, and hopefully he can heal quickly from this knock. Vermaelen was bothered by a nagging injury for the almost all of last season.
Manchester United have received an early season jolt from several young players. Tom Cleverly (centre midfielder), Danny Welbeck (striker), and Phil Jones (centre-half) have refreshed United’s rapidly aging squad from last season. Nemanja Vidic will be forced to sit out on Sunday due to a calf problem, while Rio Ferdinand could be back.
Arsene Wenger said this about Manchester United: “They are definitely [still the team to beat]. For us to beat them would be a great boost and would put us in [...]
Arsenal will take on Italian club Udinese tonight at the Emirates in the first leg of Champions League Play-offs. Arsenal will look to bounce back after a tough draw with Newcastle and the loss of Cesc Fabregas.
Wenger believes his side can stay strong during tough times: “We want to show that we have the strength and unity to fight as we ever did at this club.”
The Gunners will be without Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie due to suspension. Jack Wilshere is still bothered by an ankle injury, so he will not play. Arsene Wenger will also serve a touchline ban for his actions after RVP’s red card last season at the Nou Camp. Here is what Wenger told the media at his pre-match press conference:
“I can be in the hotel with the team. I just cannot be in the dressing room pre-match so I watch the game from the stands like everybody else.
“I do not want to cheat with the rules but I can watch the game.”
Arsene Wenger’s squad will need to perform well in their first match at the Emirates this season. Many Gooners are growing restless after the loss of Cesc Fabregas and the poor performance at St James’ Park.
Udinese finished fourth in last season’s Serie A, but they have lost three key players. Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Christian Zapata (Villareal), and Gokhan Inler (Napoli) left the Stadio Fruili. But Seria A top goal-scorer Antonio Di Natale remains with Udinese.
