League opener could come too soon for Cesc & co
A whole host of senior players might not be ready for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield in 13 days time.
With just one pre-season friendly left, the likes of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were expected to play some part in the Gunners’ trip to Warsaw on Saturday.
Fellow World Cup players Alex Song and Diaby are both doubts for Wednesday’s game, although Denilson has a “little chance” to play according to boss Arsene Wenger.
“Against Legia Warsaw you will see the players we saw [in the Emirates Cup],” Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
“I believe Song will be short, you have a little chance to see Denilson and a very little chance to see Diaby. But Fabregas and Van Persie will not be ready.”
Despite the negative injury news, all of the above – including Fabregas – are set to return to the club later this week for the official photo call and Members Day on Thursday.
We’ll be bringing you all the news and images from that event, so stay tuned to our Twitter and the blog for that.
Nordtveit must play!!!
Liverpool will have a full team!!!
when we played them last time we didn’t have a full team and beat them. not a big deal really. When we play man u and chelsea, then we need all players fit.
Edit: Cheers 🙂
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3279614/first-team/legia-warsaw-v-arsenal
i think we will beat them anyway
Im sorry but this is completely ridiculous. They can’t exactly be physically unfit after a hard month in South Africa and they can’t exactly be tired, also, after the long break they have had. Torres was injured at the world cup, he was also in the final, and yet somehow he is available for the oppener? How on earth do we not have at least fabregas ready? Van Persie is an exception because there is no doubt in my mind he’ll get at least two injuries that rule him out for a month this coming season.
well said james. no reason that the likes of diaby song and fabgregas shouldnt be ready when torres, carragher, gerrard and cole will be. i think the lineup against liverpool will be:
almunia
sagna kos vermaelen clichy
frimpong
arshavin rosicky walcott
nasri
chamakh
subs:
fabianski
eboue
djourou
gibbs
wilshire
vela
diaby
jet
any thoughts?
not really that ridiculous, to be sure that our player’s aren’t picking up stupid injuries when the season starts its not a bad idea to take it slow with the returning players, seeing as how VanP had a very grueling tournament in S. Africa and Cesc needs time to recupperate from the month long world cup win celebration. There’s no reason to rush these players back for liverpool, cause we have plenty of others for those positions. Nasri (or Wilshere, or Rosicky, or even diaby if fit) can take up cesc’s role easily, I don’t think there’s that big of a difference in their (Nas & Cesc) abilities at this point. Van P needs to be handled very delicately since he played every game and as we all know is super injury prone, he’s harder to replace, but thats why we got chamakh, and if he’s not an option, we got smaller strikers in vela, arsh, walcott, or even JET up front
We will be in seriouse trouble at Anfield without Cesc, Song or Diaby. Why they are all injured I don`t unserstand. Cesc played maybe 150 min, song 2 games, diaby 3 games, hardly a lot for 3 months. V persie played a lot, but he hardley played for us. I think the medical staff/training set up at AFC should take a long look at what they are doing, because somethinh must be very wrong. Anyone read Calvin and Hobbs, where they invent a duplicator machine and made copies of themself, Arsenal would need such a machine to win anything since the whole squad is injured most of the time;)
@Ole:
bit chicken-little there ole. last time i checked we still had arshavin, nasri, tv5, and walcott, all of whom have had lots of success against liverpool. moreover, clichy, sagna, chamakh and rosicky are top internationals. and, frimpong and wilshire have proved themselves capable. i think we will be fine. this team has a good spirit about them. still need a new gk and a cb though, to be sure.