Arsene Wenger’s injury update on Andrey Arshavin, Kieran Gibbs and William Gallas
Submitted by Jeffrey on November 26, 2009 – 4:00 12 Comments
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger provided mixed news after last Tuesday’s Champions League game which sealed qualification for the Gunners.
Kieran Gibbs will be sidelined for months whilst William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin should both be fit to start, on Sunday, against Chelsea.
Wenger said:
Gibbs has a big hole in his leg. It was a very bad challenge by the No 22 and it was not his first try, unfortunately. It doesn’t look good for Gibbs.
Gallas has an ankle problem and a swollen eye. I think he will recover for Sunday, we hope so. It wasn’t concussion but he couldn’t see anymore because his eye was swollen.
Arshavin has some staples in his head. He will be available for Sunday.
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Selvestre has questioned the performance of his player mates against sunderland, i think it would have been better to make him play Gibbs`s number and see how he would contribute to this game.
no way we’re gonna sacrifice sunday games just to see how well is silvestre..he’s obviously nowhere compare to gibbs
Silvestre’s comments are being twisted around thorough out the media, and even he was questioning them, wld be wrong? I think Wenger should give him a chance to cover for Clichy and Gibbs
Great news tho, on Gallas and Arshavin. I can’t imagin Arsenal playin Chelsea without those two.
<3 ARSENAL
We hope to win d chelsea match.That way our title hopes is stil in control.2 -0 up to arsenal go guners
We will win against Chelsea..if we play well..2-1 to gunners..
If I say what I truly feel I`ll be called negative so I`ll lie and, as my mother used to say to me,” if you`re going to lie make it a big one ” so here goes. Arsenal 6 Chelsea 0.
looool i know exactly what you mean mate LOL key men in this game are THE TEAM!
come on arsenal im going for an arsenal win 2-1
Technically we are sound enough to smash any team.They got theyr talent and so do we have it.I don`t see any reason why we cannot beat chelsea.Drogba is the main hurdle for our defenders in the past simply fast and stronger to our defenders .Looking at previous games this guy if somebody sticks in his face is frustrated easily and ends up diving and rolling n the pitch.One player that i cannot put my money is Almunia.
Do the injuries never end for us? That is too bad for Gibbs as he had really settled into the left back position and in my opinion has been more consistent than Clichy, although both are very similar players and I would want both on my squad. I am not sure what Wenger will do this weekend vs Chelsea, but my guess would be Eboue for a game of this importance. Traore I think will finally get his opportunity and just like when Gibbs first started playing last winter consistently needs experience with the first team. There is no way Silvestre can play left back as we need him to.
Its goin to be our most testing and difficult game of the season.Chelsea are stronger defensively than we have met b4,stronger man for man,effective more than anyone else we have met as far as scoring one goal and winning so its goin to be a test of our credentials its a pity we got so many pple out jus hope we show plenty and plenty of heart and also not to concede early.Play our high tempo game thru out and i am very sure they will be immensely troubled by us
I am now scared to hear that Sylvestre will be anywhere near the Arsenal line up.
He was pants for the short time he was on against Standard liege. He cant run,
cant tackle. Please Wenger play Traore who can at least run. How about unleashing
Walcott to test those Chelsea’s coggers legs ?
phillydawg here, barking up the Arsenal tree again!
Having watched Chelsea against Porto, a few observations about Sunday’s game. With a bit of luck Porto could have won that game walking away. Clearly Porto passing game,in no way as sophisticated as Arsenal’s slick one touch passing and off-the-ball-man movement, exposed Chelsea’s lack of defensive speed. Also, more often than not Chelsea’s midfield play wide too often and don’t create all that many scoring opportunities. Ballack was only one gear left and must resort to cheap fouls to compensate for his lack of speed. Arsenal, on the other hand, has speed to burn. Speed kills, and Arsenal’s speed on the flanks and passing game will create space in the middle of the field and scoring opportunities which will expose Chelsea’s defensive deficiencies.
For a man of Drogba’s size, he has the balance of a toddler and flops like a fish on land at the every opportunity. Me thinks that, after recent dives and un-sportsmanlike play in the league and in Europe, the refs won’t easily fall for his cheap theatrics. An ever ready yellow card should keep his chronic cheating and diving in check. Beyond that, the key will be Song and Denilson cutting off Anelka’s and Drogba’s ball supply in midfield. After all, they can’t score if they don’t get the ball. To that end, both Song and Denilson will have to play more defensive positions.
Key Chelsea players could be Essien and Malouda. Essien is simply a beast of a player capable of swinging a game any time he’s on the ball going forward. It’s uncertain Arsenal can contain physicality in midfield. Malouda’s new found form, pace and technique is equally worrisome.
On balance, Arsenal boast greater on-ball talent and their possession play should swing the final result in Arsenal’s favor. Final score: 2 Arsenal – 1 Chelsea.
Philldawg will watch the game over a Philly cheese steak sandwich with fried onions.
Can’t wait!!
Enjoy one and all.