Arsène Wenger has given the latest team news ahead our Champions League home match against Olympiakos this evening.
Unfortunately seems to all be bad news. Abou Diaby will be missing for the next three weeks with a thigh injury picked up on the weekend against Chelsea, while Mikel Arteta is suffering from ankle problem and faces late fitness tests.I don’t know whether Arteta picked this injury up on the weekend or in training, but if he is not passed fit then we are very short in midfield. Diaby, Arteta, Rosicky and Wilshere are all missing. Expect Francis Coquelin to go straight into the team as the defensive midfielder and either Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to start alongside the ever-present Santi Cazorla. Arsene Wenger says that Diaby’s injury represents an opportunity for some of our younger players to show their qualities, which could be interesting.
Jack Wilshere’s comeback on Monday night went well. However, Wenger will not rush to get him into first-team action after 14 months on the sidelines. Wojciech Sczcesny is also missing for the next few weeks.
Jack Wilshere
“He came through it [Monday's U21 fixture] alright. There was no reaction. We are pleased but it is now down to taking the right time to ease him slowly back. We are all very happy, and he especially must be exceptionally happy, but he has been out for 14 months.”
Mikel Arteta
“Arteta will have a test. We will make the decision then whether we include him in the squad or not. He has an ankle injury.”
Abou Diaby
“We lost Diaby, who has a thigh strain. He is definitely out for three weeks as well. Apart from Diaby and Arteta everyone came through well.”
Wojciech Szczesny
“He is injured and will not be back for two or three weeks.”
I am completely confident with Le Coq in the DM position. In addition, there are a few things I I don’t fully understand:
- why you wouldn’t rest Arteta in any event so he is not carrying an niggling injury into the weekend.
- What about Verminator in front of Merte and Kosc? Gets them all a game and helps to round out the depth of the squad in various functional responsibilities.
- if you assume Gerv, Giroud and Theo – why wouldn’t you use Ox in the Midfield for at least a part of the match to make u the “depth chart”.
- Why wouldn’t you look to give Gerv a bit of a rest and get one of the younger players into his more-attacking role in the team with experienced ‘cover” all around.
Here’s hoping.
Somebody else mentioned using Vermaelen as DM. That way we get the best of both world’s. He can bomb forward when he wants, but he also adds some defensive stability in front of Kos and Mert. Could be interesting.