Arsene Wenger has revealed that Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott will both miss Saturday’s game with Reading, while Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby are both doubts.
Having banjaxed his pelvis while away with England it’s not surprising to hear that Walcott is out of action. However, eager not to blame Roy Hodgson for the circumstances of the winger’s latest problem, the boss made clear:
“We have a good relationship [with England]. Walcott’s injury was an accident.”
Tipped in certain quarters for a return after the international break, the boss also revealed that he is treating Jack Wilshere with caution given his well-documented ankle problems.
“Because of his history we are a bit more cautious. It’s not better or worse,” the boss is quoted as saying by the Mirror’s John Cross.
He then went on to clarify that the midfielder will spend one more week in rehab before returning for the game on 6 April against Wst Brom.
Lukas Podolski and Bacary Sagna both return to the squad and it sounds as though the rest of the players who travelled across the globe on international duty have returned unscathed. Alas, two players who stayed back could well miss out this weekend with Kieran Gibbs ill and Abou Diaby, in that inimitable way of his, picking up a ‘problem’. It’s not clear exactly what or how serious it is.
Arsenal have lost only one game out of the last 29 at the Emirates following an international break but with Reading appointing Nigel Adkins as their new boss this week and fighting for their Premier League lives it’s a match which is sure to be tough. Let’s hope the boys can pick up where they left off against Bayern and Swansea…
UPDATE
BBC’s David Ornstein on Twitter: “Had Wenger’s comments on Wilshere clarified – he’s set to miss Reading & West Brom, should return for Norwich on 13 April”
Saturday can’t come Fast enough… Mind numbing boring international break finally over! COYG!!
Diaby being Diaby.. Such a shame.
tbh those injuries won’t stop us having a good starting line up, the ox instead of walcott, rambo instead of diaby, gibbs and nacho are equal, apart from jack, but at least it gives a more balanced midfield. Sagna and poldi back in, keep out verm and stick with kos and mert, maybe a toss up between fab and szc but fab is in form, giroud up front and caz in am. Then 70 min sub for gervinho who gets a hatrick, all part of the plan.
What about Jenkinson? I think he’s showen a good form lately.
No doubt, hes really good, but he inexperienced plus more accident prone, he nearly cost us a goal against swansea. But sagna is always consistent in these times, I know hes been wonky at times but this might be his last few games, so might as well give him a chance to leave on a high.
Yeh I prefer Ramsey over Diaby anyway
Personally, I see a line up of Fabianski, jenks, mert, kos, nacho, arteta, ramsey, rosicky, podolski, giroud, cazorla.
Ox had a good game against Swansea, but we’ve really missed Podolski’s influence and i think wenger will be keen to keep cazorla on the wing unless rosciky’s picked up anything internationally – but it seems alright. He’ll stick with jenks and fab too – both in good form at the moment.
I concur with the gervinho hattrick too…wonder what kinda money i could get for a bet on that…
The Arsenal squad is strong so resting anyone with injury concerns makes sense. A win by any margin will be a good result. Just win.
I see Feo is pulling his new facial expression again – the one he pulled when he was taken off at Swansea.
What can it mean ?
Does it mean “Why on earth did I re-sign for this lot ?”
Fuck off to Talksport with that shit.
I’m still just trying to work out if your name is supposed to be Mr Swoo or Mrs Woo. I haven’t even got around to your obviously pointless comment…. Oh wait, now I have
Who do we think will get the nod at right back? Jenk has formed part of the last 2 cleansheets but Sagna is 1st choice…Hmmm.
Totally different side to the one we previously beat and a new manager? Even the more incentive to stay up. Reading are fighting for survival like their lives depend on it. Saw the united game last weekend and boy were they up for it!! Like rabid dogs chasing after each and every ball, Defending everything! Came undone with a lucky (deflected) shrek strike. The Arsenal lads better not think they are up for a walk in the park. We will win only if we’re up for the fight (our staying power) superiority will only count for so much. Coyg
Just give the coq a game if diaby is unfit.
it’ll be cazorla, ramsey, and arteta
Yes ox will get a game, Diaby is dead.
FOr theo it’s not about the money, money , money.
Arsenal can keep their money, money, money.
Theo just wants to be a centre forward and make the crowd dance.
Terrible.
Shaved your head a little too close to your brain?
That photo makes me laugh. Looks like Theo’s downwind of Jack’s fart.
In the future, Diaby might just delay his retirement due to eh…injury!
Not even read the post but I’ll go with a wild guess: “3 weeks”?
No 9 months.
That’s about 36 weeks only.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Wenger goes with:
Fabianski
Sagna – Mertesacker – Koscielny – Monreal
Ramsey – Arteta
Ox – Cazorla – Gervinho/Podolski
Giroud
The Podolski situation leaves question marks for me. And to my understanding, Gervinho’s confidence is growing so Wenger would probably see Reading as a good team to get Gervinho going against to boost him up for the last 9 games. I’d personally prefer a Podolski start for various reasons, mostly his growing telepathic ways with Cazorla and Giroud, but wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t start after this info about ankle came out.
I’d probably keep Jenks in for this one.
I’d like to see Jenks in there too, but I have a feeling that Wenger would look at this game as an opportunity for Sagna to get in a step after a few weeks of injury, considering that it’s the last 9 games situation and we need points.
I think that’s how Wenger would think at least.
Does it really surprise anyone that these players are out? We knew it would happen and have got more than enough quality on the bench to come in as replacements.
I’d say it’s finally time for Wenger to show us the ‘strength in depth’ he’s always saying we have.
I couldn’t agree more about displaying strength in depth.
Diaby picked up another problem… you have to be kidding
Diaby must be about 19 in Rosicky years.
Diaby hasn’t been born yet in Rosicky years.
Is high time Diaby pack his back and headed to timbuktu oh sorry France
devastating news for theo. atleast he has 100k other good reasons to keep his spirits up. he will survive this.
Technically it’s only 53k other good reasons after tax
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I dont like it when we come up against teams trying to impress their new manager.. makes me jittery 🙁
I don’t like it when we come up against teams. This Arsenal could play against Accrington Ladies U13s and we wouldn’t be sure of the win.
Sad but true!
Come on arsenal