Arsene Wenger says that while player input does play a role in deciding whether or not he can play in a particular game, it’s not the be all and end all.
Once again stressing that both tests and testimony from Alexis Sanchez showed no obvious problems before he pulled up with a hamstring strain against Norwich, the Arsenal manager expounded on the processes undergone at the club when it comes to assessing a player’s fitness.
“We are quite sophisticated in testing our players,” he said. “I had a chat with Alexis after his injury and he was adamant he felt perfect before the game because we tested his strength, stretching, all the signs we test every week were perfect.
“There was no obvious sign or alert before the game – it happened, do I have to take the blame? I do, but there was not an obvious mistake to select him before the game.”
He also said that listening to players was something all managers have to do but it can only be used to help them make the right decisions, the final buck stopping with them.
“It happens in extreme circumstances. If you ask me when you play a cup final, you don’t listen too much to the players because they are all ‘fit’!
“But in normal situations, sometimes you have to get the feeling from the player because at the end of the day you have to trust them.”
Wenger also hit out at the lack of coverage of the push which sent Sanchez flying into a camera pit. Norwich’s Ryan Bennett was guilty of very dangerous play, with the Arsenal manager left frustrated at the lack of column inches dedicated to it.
Bennett saw fit to apologise to Piers Morgan over the incident, which tells you everything you need to know about the Norwich player.
Same thing with Arnautovic on Debuchy last year. There’s a campaign, I tell you!
Sam Alladyce comes to town tomorrow; expect more rugby tackles.
Awww come on, you can’t blame Bennett for trying to apologise!
I’m sure if Arsenal, Alexis, or any other medium had a twitter account he could have used that.
Wait..
So throughout the second half cazorla failed to say his knee was worsening or that the bench couldn’t see, as I quote, he was playing on one leg?
I find it far more likely that Cazorla didn’t say anything until after the game. I watched the game and could not tell he was injured, could you? I’m sure the medical team looked at him at half-time and pronounced him fit. It looked like a contact injury at the time. Remember it was a collision of legs with their player that injured him. That usually indicates bruising not a ligament tear. If the player doesn’t tell the team how injured he is, how can you blame AW or the medical team? Hind sight is a beautiful thing.
It’s pretty obvious he’s injured, but ultimately he must have said he was ok to carry on – https://streamable.com/qgk3
It happened straight after half time
Whilst a fan I’m following the ball. I would expect a professional on the touchline, the physio? To keep following an injured player to see how he is doing. And to make the decision for him
If Wenger did not play Alexis and we dropped two more points to a loss against them, people will say he was being complacent and should have played him. You can’t win against the sort of argument espoused. The points we have lost (CL apart) have also largely been with our main central midfield pairing of Corqzorla so you can’t make the argument that we ‘lack depth’ and it is Flamini’s ‘lack of dynamism” that has cost us. Koscielny and Gabriel have also made mistakes leading to goals and cost us but some would rather blame Meteresecker for a lack… Read more »
I think Wenger will have to trust Ramsey-Flamini to run a new axis in midfield. Both players will need to extract their best qualities and make it work in the middle. The threat and heavy work will go to the wide positions IF Ox and Campbell start (Possibly Walcott) These two young players look good going forward and will improve with games but have to make immediate impact now. Campbell needs to sustain effort through the game and Ox needs to be more careful when playing defensively (less naive) But Ox can stretch the game wide for us. If there… Read more »
Stop saying axis
The players have to know that it’s a long season.. why not substitute for the greater good, instead of risk the whole season…. this shit always happends . ..