Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Aaron Ramsey will miss Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final with Watford, but Gabriel and Per Mertesacker, two other casualties from Wednesday’s win over Hull, will be available for selection.
The boss also confirmed that Francis Coquelin and Hector Bellerin will return to the squad.
“I think we lost Ramsey,” Wenger told his press conference on Friday afternoon. “Gabriel and Mertesacker will be available.”
“[Laurent]Koscielny is not far, will I risk him? I’m not sure. Coquelin is back from suspension. Bellerin is back in the squad and available.”
On whether Gabriel and Mertesacker have been able to train since the trip to the KC Stadium, Wenger continued: “Gabriel no [he hasn’t trained yet]. Mertesacker yes. I don’t think he [Gabriel] lost too much fitness. We’ll see. Honestly, my gut feeling is he’ll join in tomorrow and be completely available.”
Would like to see Chambers continue at centre back. He was solid during that hull game. Some Mert Chambers combo would be nice.
Mert/Chambers combo? Not so sure. Remember Everton away last season, Mert had to play the no. 6. I can’t remember a worse game by Mert. Lukaku at one point left him for dead near the centre in the build up to their second goal. I don’t think Chambers likes to play there either. Two guys not blessed with pace against Ighalo and Deeney would be asking for trouble.
He didnt leave Mertesacker for dead he completely fouled him.
Fouled him, then left him for dead…
Losing Ramsey is very careless in my opinion. I do hope labels with his name have been sewn onto his clothes. I’ll organize the servants into search parties immediately.
Let’s hope he gets back very quickly with a positive clinical sign on the pitch as well.
So 3 games in one week. 3 different competition. We can be out of all 3 or redefine our season. And we are known as Arsenal. Anyone else worried?
i think we’ll win 1, lose 1 and then draw 1
In that order unfortunately 🙁
Sigh! You might be right and if it happens that way, the draw would hurt the most.
It’s unbelievable that after cutting the lead down to 2 points, we have drifted 8 points behind.
The one hope is, we are better chasers.
Spot on!
i know i know.. lol, but not set in stone though, guys….don’t forget that when this team does get it together ….(i know!)…. but seriously, when they do, (or if they do), they can outplay anybody, ……so, what i am saying is, quality wise, they are more than capable of pulling off a surprise result against any of those teams, including bacelona, but will they?….depends on which arsenal team turns up!!
Apart from all his ME ME ME interviews and his attitude on the pitch, here is another Ramsey’s antic:
Yesterday chat between him and the fans on Arsenal Twitter:
Question: “Who is the most intelligent player at Arsenal?”
Answer: “There aren’t many! I’d say Theo Walcott, he’s very well spoken and seems [sic!] intelligent.”
Then don’t ask me why i’m glad he is not in.
Wilshere and Cazorla; are they still alive? Just wondering.
Wilshire is 3-4 weeks away, just like he will be in 3-4 weeks, and just like he was 3-4 weeks ago.
lol…..c’mmon man..the deadline for the deadline to the deadline for his comeback is for real this time….isn’t it?
I hope he puts out a decent side against Watford with Bellerin and Coquellen.
Be interesting to what he does with the defence. I think Per and Chambers is a combination that could work.
Just play our strongest team and win this one.
I feel sorry for Steve McLaren. It must have been strange managing a club where results did matter.
I see you’ve become a yesman
I see you are coming back to form Fats! 🙂
hahaha love it 🙂
Results matter which is why the only club that can still win The Double, a third successive FA Cup and a record breaking successive number of Champions League qualifications still has the same manager instead of the revoving door policy at Newcastle! Positivity breeds success! Negativity breeds failure! COYG!
Oh fat gooner how we’ve missed your cheery optimism
We really should of signed Hummels and Aubameyang when we had the chance.
Ospina
Chambers Mert Gabriel Gibbs – if Gabriel can’t play then maybe Monreal at CB or is that too risky?
Coq Elneny
Campbell Iwobi Welbeck
Giroud
Subs: Alexis, Ozil, Walcott, Flamini, Macey, Bellerin
“I think we lost Ramsey”
Make’s it sound as if he’s died.. although if that was the case he’d probably just say he’s back in 3 weeks..
This tickled me more than it should.
I’m literally crying with laughter.
I’m confident we’ll get positive results against Watford.
I’m excited to see Iwobi. That kid can roll, man.
And hopefully him or Joel Campbell make the starting XI against Barcelona in midweek.
First Ramsey is just a ‘little alert’; yesterday he was reported as being out for six weeks; today Wenger thinks he ‘has lost him’ – eh? Next week we’ll doubtless be hearing that he has been found and is up and running, only to learn three months later that, while, no, he’s not running yet, his recovery has been progressing superbly and he’s well ahead of schedule – until, that is, a little a set-back occurs and surgery is the way forward. Christ on a bike. When will the media stop solemnly reporting Wenger’s nonsensical utterances as though they were… Read more »
“I think we lost Ramsey,”
think*
We all saw him substituted for injury? after being on for 15 minutes against Hull…so , does anyone know what i ‘think’ we lost Ramsey mean?
does that mean he is injured lightly?…seriously?…or not?
Watched hummels yesterday he didn’t look that good against a poor spurs side but I agree break the bank for aubameyang though we will get benzema as real look like they don’t want him
Who knows, I could be wrong but I doubt Wenger is going for someone who hangs with blackmailers and buys diamond encrusted footballs.
Will be interesting to see how Wenger decides to go in the next two matches. He definitely will play as strong a side as possible for Everton, but what kind of rotation will he have for Watford and Barcelona especially since Bellerin, Ozil, Coquelin, Welbeck and Sanchez did not play vs Hull.
Ramsey would return faster from injury if he died. At least if he died he would resurrect in 3 days.
Burn barca off, i don.t care about CL this year
Think it’s a good opportunity to start Chambers. Watford will park the bus so it’s important we have our two best ball playing CB’s in Mert and Chambers to recycle the ball quickly. They both pass the ball around with zip which will be awfully important in such situations we normally experience at home games. Coquelin will need to play a diligent game and win the battle with Deeney.