The latest team news has emerged ahead of the weekend’s game against Newcastle, and it looks like Arsene Wenger is going to have be creative when it comes to the defence.
Laurent Koscielny appears to be a major doubt right now while the manager has ruled out Nacho Monreal with a foot injury. Calum Chambers is, of course, suspended after his red card against Stoke last Saturday.
That leaves Wenger with just four first team defenders. Per Mertesacker, the recently returned Mathieu Debuch, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Gibbs who was carrying a knock and not risked in midweek against Galatasaray.
The eagle-eyed will have spotted that there’s just one central defender in there so quite how he figures this one out remains to be seen. He may call up youngster Semi Ajayi or play one of his full backs in the middle.
Speaking to the official site, Wenger said, “Our main problems are still defensively because Laurent Koscielny looks like he will not be quite ready, Nacho Monreal is not back and Calum Chambers is suspended.
“Mikel Arteta is not ready and Theo Walcott is out.”
There’s also a worry about Aaron Ramsey who was taken off at half-time in Turkey with a hamstring problem and faces tests today and tomorrow to see if he can make it.
All in all, we could do with some of that potion Asterix used to drink. Anyone know any good druids?
Who could have predicted in the summer that we’ll be short in defense with injury to koscielny or Per?
I think it was quite silly to send out both Jenko and the Coq out on loan especially when you’re lacking in defensive options. Seems as if individual player development is above the needs of the club. Quite clearly they were seen as surplus to requirements.
I think he’s handled the defence ridiculously for a number of years now. The injury situation and our lack of cover is beyond stupid. Wenger has not planned well for a season in which I personally expected lift-off.
Wenger asked us to us judge him at the end of season, and I shall be open when I do-I encourage all fans too as well-but this is going to take some turning around and our lack of planning until now will definitely be considered.
Nah, we are not lacking in fullbcks and I wouldn’t want to play either of them at CB, maybe Jenkinson over Monreal but probably not.
Taking it as a ‘we’re short of defenders, so why send out defenders on loan?’ is a bit silly when there are two different types and we’re mssing one but not the other.
Yep, something I’ve always noticed as a flaw in the argument too. The issue is recruitment not loan policy.
Chelsea have got the same numbers at the back …
Chelsea have historically shown to have a great injury record due to arguably the best sports science & medical support team in the country.
We on then other hand, have shown to be arguably the team with the highest injury rates for the past decade in the league.
So unless you believe we’ve just been very unlucky for over 9 years, and nothing to do with anything systematic at the club, then based on trends, it was expected we would suffer injury problems,
With that Chelsea physio I’d be trying to spend as much time in the injury room as possible!
Maybe Arsene could really shake things up and play 3 at the back? It worked brilliantly for Van Gaal… oh wait.
Really worried for koscielny, sounds like the tendonitis is not going away. That kind of thing can stretch on for months to years, it has already been 5-6 months
It’s a new calf injury, not his tendonitis.
As one would expect, the leg is a single unit – the calf and the achilles are connected in tandem in terms of motion and the transference of muscular tension from the leg to the foot. Your muscles provide the thrust, and your achilles transfers that force to the foot, which counteracts this thrust with muscles on top of your foot to push you forwards. In other words, it’s likely that his achilles problems are linked to his current calf injury, and this is very serious news indeed – if he’s changing his running form to adjust for his tendon… Read more »
Why would somebody thumb this down?
Does anyone remember how Wenger said Kos was still a few weeks away as he had just returned to field training and that arsenal standard protocol required him to go through their procedures for at least 3 weeks before becoming available for first team selection?
Then 5 days later, he’s in the first team.
Yeah, that’s not Arsenal and Wenger rushing him back. Well rushing players back has historically worked for us before hasn’t it? hasn’t it?
Sagna, the Man Citeh bench warmer, was a real loss this year. Except for the twice broken leg, I thought he was pretty reliable and mostly injury-free.
I know I will get thumbed down for this, but could we not put Giroud beside Mert? Giroud is massive and defends corners like a beast. Talk of Debuchy playing CB is almost as silly as Monreal playing there.
Maybe Sanago could have a go at CB as well…
Or bring Jenks back! We need to catch West Ham, haha.
slowest cb paring in the premier league, giroud and mert…yeah?
There’s no doubt neglecting to bring in defensive cover has been hugely costly. It’s a clear and massive mistake. Starting with 5 proven 1st team defenders plus chambers is and asking for trouble or just hoping to get lucky. Just pisses me off even more that the chavs and their great manager also only have 5 proven 1st team defenders and a bunch of youngsters who haven’t been needed to come in when ivanovic terry/chill and either of their LB’s have all been out at the same time. Maybe they would’ve managed it ok with ake zouma and christiansen but… Read more »
colour me shocked
Get creative, nah, all we need to do is score more than them! What are the odds on another 7-3, or maybe a cheeky 12-9?
Just play 1 at the back.
We have 6 (Welbeck, Giroud, Sonogo, Campbell, Podolski and Sanches) fit forwards, so go 1, 3, 6.
Now, that is creative!!!!!
“the incredibly high press”
Or as I like to call it at this time of year, the inverted Christmas Tree formation!!
Is better play with Ajayi or Hayden than play with Bellerin, more safe.
Hayden is injured
of course
Why am I not surprised
Piss poor management.
And what has happened to Theo?!
It looks like that Koscielny will be ‘made’ to play as we are so stretched at the back.
Which means he will further aggravate what issue he currently has which means he will out again some time soon or for a while we will have to keep playing roulette with his injury.
January seems a long way away…
Now is the perfect time Ajayi or anyone else can come in and stake their claim.
Though I see Flamini shunted there if we have no one else to play there.
Just imagine for a sec if Per picks up a little niggle in the first 15 mins too. He’s played nearly in every match since he came back.
But he did retire from international duties so was able to have a break during the last interlull, little victories and all that.
Gibbs on cb, Bellerin on lb maybe?
I don’t see why Gibbs couldn’t if Monreal can, GIbbs is better in the air and quicker/better at reading the game also.
If he played there a bit he might actually become a better defensive LB too
Could play Bellerin at CB? He could cover all the running Per should be doing, and then some, plus he’s actually played for us so he’s infinitely more experienced than other options.
The worst part is that the way this season’s going that might end up being a viable option.
I’m getting so frustrated with our situation which could’ve been prevented had just signed a bloody cb.
I’m getting so frustrated with our situation which could’ve been prevented had we just signed a bloody cb.
Deja vu……funny but I think I’ve been here before (and so has the injury situation FFS)
Yeah thanks for reminding us we all forgot about that!
Seriously. We have known since immediately after deadline day that this issue will haunt us until January. And Arsene Wenger knew it all along as well. He clearly prioritized a CB signing and they still were not able to bring anyone in. We can bitch about it every single game, or just quit our moaning and support the guys that are having to really deal with it, which is the makeshift back four. With some positive support we may be able to lift them. All the bitching and moaning about the same issue that we cannot do anything about since… Read more »
Bring back Coq. He can fill in that hole. We won’t perform with Semi.
It’s quite difficult to do some running around when you’ve got a Semi.
Get yer boots on bouldie.
A short Coq is no good. Perhaps a long Semi is better.
hate to reopen old wounds but we could all see this was going to happen going in to the season with only 2 starter CBs
Really!? We all forgot that!!!!!
Alex Song could have slotted in there nicely Arsene..
I doubt it. Poor defensively but good at playmaking, not something we need right now.
Shut up Mark.
He has more experience at CB than Chambers and Monreal put together…
That doesn’t make him good.
He is better than Flammini and comfortably better at CB than Monreal..
This. I seem to remember song slotting in nicely a couple of times as a cb.
He also played alongside per as a cb once in the CL.
Song is better than nobody, but a proper CB would be better still.
Song definitely is a better cb than monreal.
Why all the Alex song haters. He’s only man of the match every time west ham play. The tv broadcasters always talk about how great he’s playing and with jenkinson and song they are above us. Of course not just because of those two players. Jenkinson stays and chambers could have been playing center back all this time rather than monreal. And song is much better than flaMini and arteta combined. Thankfully Debuchy is back so bellerinn and chambers don’t muck up the right back position. January can’t come soon enough. Wenger will definitely buy a center…..I mean a creative… Read more »
We could still beat Newcastle with 4 bendtners across the back. Not worried
Stefan O’Connor anyone? Played well midweek
Isn’t he an FB?
Nope. He is a centre back. Probably was his first time playing right back
OK then, the answer is yes to either Semi or O’Connor.
really?…i didnt know he was a cb….we might as well give him a chance then, seeing we are short of options and who knows?……maybe “A STAR IS BORN”
http://giphy.com/gifs/12XMGIWtrHBl5e/html5
Is theo ever coming back?
I really liked him…
Who is this Theo of which you all speak?
Debuchy came back at literally the perfect moment it seems.
*warning, what follows are the musings of a bored proctor passing the time during final exams. (Also, I’m not Rambling Pete nor am I trying to be him) Actually, the perfect moment would’ve been after we sign some guy off the street (let’s call him Bizarro-Debuchy) who almost fools everyone into thinking he’s Debuchy but there’s something off. When Comrade-Debuchy speaks, it sounds like a russian accent paired with French words. Nonetheless we sign him and announce all our defensive problems are over because this fella not only has the skill of Debuchy, but we are told he can jump… Read more »
my response isn’t showing :/
I’m bored proctoring a finals exam and had written a long tale about how Debuchy overcame his past to defeat Bizarro-Debuchy who was actually John Terry trying to take Debuchy’s place in the squad order to slog Wenger’s wife but was stopped at the last minute with a kick to his cuntballs by Debuchy before he could ever don the shirt.
The actual perfect moment.
Sorry for the triple post. I’m now a sad proctor as my work has sadly been rejected by the servers at Arseblog. I do remember Bizarro Debuchy being able to jump 1.3 Cazorlas from a standing position, bench 4.8 Pers, and run at 0.8627 Walcotts. All according to LegoYoutube
?????
oh, that one did. Anyways, I’ve typed it so I’m going to post it. *warning, what follows are the musings of a bored proctor passing the time during final exams. (Also, I’m not Rambling Pete nor am I trying to be him) Actually, the perfect moment would’ve been after we sign some guy off the street (let’s call him Bizarro-Debuchy) who almost fools everyone into thinking he’s Debuchy but there’s something off. When Comrade-Debuchy speaks, it sounds like a russian accent paired with French words. Nonetheless we sign him and announce all our defensive problems are over because this fella… Read more »
The only creativity Wenger could offer is to gain d maximum point. It is becausee of this unforseen circumstances we have feeder teams so why not bring one of their best center halves. COYG
All those lamenting the lack of defensive depth need to pause for a bit. Yes, we didn’t buy a defender. We let Vermaelen and Sagna go, and sent Jenkinson on loan. We replaced them with Chambers, Debuchy and Bellerin from the academy. It was Wenger’s fault not to anticipate an injury crisis, but honestly, but Koscielny and Debuchy pretty much being unavailable is unprecedented. This should, even by Arsenal standards have happened only a couple of times this season, not just before January. Yes, it was an oversight, but in a market where a top club like Barcelona and cash-rich,… Read more »
Sorry, what could he have done??? Er, he could have bought a defender or 2 more. Are you telling me that, even in our over inflated market, he couldnt have found a few defenders? Rubbish!!! History tells us he should have expected injuries to mount and even if they didnt we still would have needed more cover.
So you want him to buy someone that isn’t really good enough but will do as cover. Will you then refer to him as deadwood for the next few years of his contract when he never plays as we’ll (hopefully) have got the CBs that he wanted?
I’m pissed he didn’t get a CB as well but I’m certain he was trying all summer.
THAT is precisely what I want him to do. Kinda. How much would Jageilka have cost? 10m? Winston Reid if he wants another young CB, probably not much more than 15m; and this is before considering all the other guys that were probably available, assorted frenchicans out in France, probably a half dcent Italian who can defend and wouldn’t cost too much. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want a Silvestre but if that’s what it takes to get some cover in when it is desperately needed, I’d take it. We can gamble with money now, so it’s worth taking… Read more »
I really do not get it….. Arsenal loses Sagna and Verms, brings in Debuchy (ahead of Sagna in France team) and Chambers (for the very injured and hardly used Verms) with Hayden (Djourou replacement). Bellerin for Jenks. And Arsene was still looking for another CB. Basically he replaced with like for like and in some cases even better players. So are we worse off from the team which was so good last season not really except we got injuries.. And yes we could have bought a Titus Bramble and/or even Gary Cahill but who is to say they would not… Read more »
Well, Chambers is covering RB as well and with Wenger hesitant to play him and Bellerin at the same time it’ going a bit far to say that Bellerin is prviding cover for anybody, so Chambers is half a replacement (a splendid replacemenet, and easily the best value defensive signing of the summer). We were a little short last season too, if I’m honest, but then Vernaelen was barely fit and we got lucky, so it seemed ok. Kos/Mert played in the Wirld cup too, that’s a long time to go from a tough season playing every game, through a… Read more »
No that’s not what I’m saying, im saying I don’t believe that he couldn’t find in all that time some suitable defenders for the team. So what are out scouts doing if not finding the right players. Or again is it wenger not willing to pay out. He has only paid out when been forced to.
Tendonitis, kos was a known known. See donald rumsfeld for clarification
I have to disagree. Arsene is paid to be a top manager. All us morons on this site could see in July/August that we were short at the back. Injuries happen. They will happen to Chelski. We needed to sign at least one CB. Ideally a world class CB, but failing that an up-and-comer. Even someone out of contract would be better than no one. Sure, we’ve had back luck with injuries, but you have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
“but Koscielny and Debuchy pretty much being unavailable is unprecedented.”
Unprecedented?
You mean the Kos who’s achilles tendonitis was already spoken of in Janurary this year (last season) and which was already known to the medical team? Chronic tendonitis is called chronic for a reason; it is not acute and didn’t appear out of nowhere, it develops over a prolonged period, say a season. So the only outcome is that the medical team are negligent and didn’t know (almost impossible), or management knew and ignored it and refused to factor it in to the need for a CB.
I think Koscielny will play despite injury if not probably Flamini will be in his spot?
The sheer thought of a CB pairing of Mert & Flam scares the life out of me, just imagine having Flamini doing what he does (point, shout, foul & be out of position) but 10 yards deeper and not having anyone behind him to make up for his mistakes
Don’t be so deluded as to blame Wenger for this.
I blame it on the boogie.
blame it on the night
Should play Flamini as a CB and Ox next to Aaron. Then he could start also Poldi in the attacking trio.
Please no Flamini at CB. All he’ll do is wave his arms and we’ll end up losing 5 – 2
Walcott last played in January, right? Wilshere was out for 2 years?
Hey Wenger, whats going on?
Just sign Obelix already!
If Ramsey is fit we’ll have just 4 fit midfielders. How the fuck did it get to this. Willing to bet that we’ll finish the game with 5-6 strikers on.
We could play Flamini, The Ox, Cazorla, Sanchez and Welbeck in midfield with giroud up top. That’s not half bad.
Not the first time it has happened, keep getting long term injuries and making excuses for loosing games they should win! I wonder what the bulls…t he will come out with this week! ” we have the mental strength but lacked concentration at the back” time to go, I think!
Hahaha… *Cries*
we all know we are short at the back an obvious one to even to an 11 year old (my footie mad cousin) dont know how wenger never see’s to address this weakness, if he thinks we can just stay fit all season then were is his logic on our major injuries every season for the last 6 years, we have always been 3 players short of a fantastic team but his draconian thinking is costing this club big time, there’s only so many times you can pull the rabbit out of the hat, with giroud, welbeck and sanchez in… Read more »
Thing is, we can’t always be 3 players away.
We are currently one player away from having the right squad imo. Some would argue Flamini isn’t good enough, I disagree but given his age then a DM is needed in either January or the summer. Still only two, though.
Hayden started running outside on 1 December according to his twitter. Enough to slot him in next to Per? With Debuchy and (hopefully) Gibbs that would be an alright defence.
Is it too late to register Bould as a player?
What creativity? He’s clearly got to elevate one of the U19’s to the first team squad. End of story. Maybe you do so with fingers crossed, but hey, sometimes these kids can surprise.
Agreed, no need to be creative plugging round holes with square objects. Just play the best CB from the u21/u19s team, at least they will have some sort of idea of how to play CB!
Thats the thing. Hayden’s injured and the next best Pleguezelo isn’t fit. That means the choice is between Ajayi and OConner and neither are good enough at the moment
Can they really be worse than Flamini? Could put my nan CB and she would probably do a better job
Diaby could return alongside Merts, but if not…. no matter:
Szczesny
Bellerin – Debuchy – BFG – Gibbs
Ox – Flamini – Santi
Welbeck
Alexis – Podolski
We could even shuffle Debs & BFG right… and play Giroud at CB.
I’ll get my coat.
Switch Alexis and Welbeck, and you got yourself a deal. Alexis did exceptional work playing as a 10 behind Di Natale at Udinese.
Chambers is the most carded player in the league – surely with a thin defense someone could’ve had a word?? Even though the cards last week were soft, we are stuck in the mire and sh*t like this doesn’t help…
I reckon this lineup most likely, and doesn’t seem too bad, unless I’m including someone who is crocked (Ram will play IMHO)
SZCZ
Bellendin, Debooty, BFG, Gibbo
Ox, Ram, Flam, Alexis
Welbz, HFB
But Chambers shouldn’t be ‘the most carded’.
It’s only the poor standard of the officials that have given him that title.
You can’t tell the lad to stop making any tackles.
You mean “fouls”
No, he’s been penalised for making fouls and tackles.
Certainly hasn’t earned as many cards as he’s been give.
it can’t be a coincidence that a guy who wasn’t booked at all in 21 games has suddenly started picking up a shit-ton of them. I don’t like to be paranoid, but at times it seems more like realism than paranoia.
Arsene!! Sort it out!! Or why do you think you are being paid £8 million a year? And ask yourself why Chelski’s near pensioners, close to get freedom pass in Drogba and John Terry are not always injured. I bet if they were playing for US they will forever be on the treatment table. Wenger SORT IT OUT or GET OUT!!
I’m not sure we can blame Arsene for players getting injured?
he’s to blame as there is something drastically wrong with training methods? medical staff? training pitches?
The negative karma from all your whining?
According to Wikipedia, Debuchy was a deep lying playmaker during his first year at Lille, so he has experience reading the game from a central position. So why not pair Per and Debuchy at CB, and play Bellerin at RB and Gibbs at LB?
If we don’t get a defender on day one of the transfer window I am going to be seriously fucked off!
Prepare the fucking for the offal.
Wenger hasnt a clue anymore. Thats the harsh reality. Ive tried to stick up for him against the “Arsene out” calls over the years but enough is enough. Firstly the injury problems that we clearly have, and something seriously is off about the amount we have as its just daft now, has never been addressed. Is it the training methods? The medical team? A combination of both? As someone else said before, it cannot just be bad luck, its been happening for the best part of 10 years now. Yet nothing has been done. And of course, the defensive conundrum… Read more »
It’s true, we haven’t done anything about it.
Those Germans seemed to keep fit marvelously well during the World Cup, maybe we could get someone from their fitness team in?
Shad up! lol
i miss Walcott so much, such an unique and important player for us. hope he comes back soon.
Ridiculous…absolutely ridiculous.
We’ve got to be the most unorganized top team around.
9 years now we’ve had the usual “oh we fell off due to injury” nonsense and wenger has clearly not done enough or tried to do something about it.
WHY did he loan jenko out if he was planning to use chambers as a cb?? If he knew he wasn’t going to get a cb, why let jenko go on loan…no excuses wenger has messed up a season where we were expected to be genuine title contenders with some daft decisions.
Wenger….an embarrassment. He has to sit in front of the world media every week and tell us how short we are for defensive cover. What a tit. I’m embarrassed for him. His mistakes in the summer hit him in the face every week. Joke.
I say some permutation of Debuchy and Per as centerbacks with Bellerin and Flamini as the full backs. Or since Flamini’s pace is questionable him and Per as centerbacks.
Thank you, Anthony Tailor
The answer is right there on the bench. Steve Bould, boot up
The reason that we have so many injury problems is not related to the physio, it is related to the way we play. We are soft as tissue paper. A post above referenced Chelsea. Well if an opponent goes sliding in on one of their players with your studs showing, or crashes into them from behind, one of their guys is going to dish out similar, or more extreme, punishment later in the game. While they may surround the ref, they aren’t going to leave justice up to him. Arsenal, on the other hand, absorbs those challenges with only a… Read more »
The problem with that is that a small revenge kick by an arsenal player would result in a red card. Full GBH with a pick-axe handle by a Chelsea player may result in him getting a yellow card.
Or, and this is radical, the refs could do their job.
Also, Debuchy left something on Milner that game after Milner tried it on.
Debuchy will probably have to play in the middle with young Bellerin in the right-back position. Lucky us it’s only Newcastle.
INJURSENAL might be a better name for us. I think we need a complete backup starting 11 so we can just swap them out in whole. I can’t even keep count of the injuries anymore. The names are a blur.
Wanted to spill it for ages….Transfer markets, club chemistry are totally different than your EA Sports FIFA transfer market. So stop complaining about rubbish, overpriced or not available CB or MDs we could have added. Some comments sound like they were the only one who sensed we might have injury crisis. We all knew and I am certain Wenger knew it too. Just support your team and hope we can get better(since chanting Wenger out or pollute internet with stupid remarks wont solve our problem) If you really love trophies and Cesc, you know where to go. #COYG
I think our injury problem is linked to the kind of technical players arsene likes to buy(particularly the attacking ones)
Our defensive woes stem from Wenger tempting fate