On a day when Arsene Wenger will surely be setting records for fielding the least experienced English side ever to grace the top levels of European competition (debuts for Kyle Bartley and Tom Cruise, who has never even graced our senior bench before), his claim that this is our worst ever season for injuries deserves some investigation. With 13 players out at the moment, it’s certainly a luxury to be in a position where our result tonight cannot jeopardise our position at the top of Group H.
But we’ve been here before, haven’t we? How about during the magnificent 2005/06 Champions League run when we fielded Flamini as our eighth choice left back? At the time our injuries targeted any player capable of covering the position, which obviously tested squad depth rather than decimating the entire first team, as has happened this time. But even with shaky Senderos acting as a lynchpin, we set a Champions League record with our makeshift defenders.
Our chips are down right now and Wenger will be hoping Arsenal’s Champions League gamble pays off, but the reality is too many of our players have never established consistent fitness for any prolonged period. Diaby, Gallas, Vela, Denilson, Van Persie, Rosicky and Walcott have failed to complete a single season without recurring problems. The old injury excuse has been wheeled out year after year to account for the premature collapse of each season’s title challenge, but it’s becoming clear that the technical gifts of the current squad cannot compensate for their inability to play regularly.
It comes as little comfort to see we’re not alone this year. Liverpool has lacked nine first teamers during the opening months of this season, while Everton have lost ten senior players for weeks (or in several cases months) at a time. I was devastated to see Wolfsburg fail to capitalise on United’s back line of three midfielders last night, but as the fans of these teams can dismiss the misfortune as a temporary setback, I fear our problems can’t be dismissed as a short-term hindrance.
In other sports news, the odd for the 2010 Cheltenham Festival are really starting to hot up.
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A rash of injuries is bad. How much weight training do the players get. Many times weight training and proper diet will cut down on injuries. This is bad but the bright side is this. The younger players will get valuable experience playing in a Champions League match. This is something you can simulate in practice.
Man U looked foolish at times but the old man saved em. Owen. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
Is Arsenal’s injury list any worse than West Ham’s, Man United’s or Everton’s? Arsenal have qualified for the next phase otherwise the team would be stronger – this is not just about injuries.
http://articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2009/12/which-premier-league-side-has-the-biggest-injury-crisis-arsenal-everton-west-ham-or-man-united.html
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