Neither Aaron Ramsey or Mesut Ozil were involved in today’s penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea in the Community Shield, and it seems the duo are in something of a race to be fit for the Premier League opener against Leicester on Friday.
Ramsey is suffering from a calf problem, while the German international took a kick in training on Friday which has left him with a swollen ankle.
Speaking after the Chelsea game, Wenger said, “Mesut got a kick on his ankle, he has a little chance to play on Friday night. Ramsey has a chance too.”
The Arsenal manager also declared Alexis Sanchez ‘short of competition’, but it seems likely the Chilean will make the bench for the Premier League opener.
There was also an update on Per Mertesacker who had to leave the field after a Gary Cahill elbow split his head open.
Big Fucking Stitches pic.twitter.com/pCV6afJEzs
— arseblog (@arseblog) August 6, 2017
The wound is ‘nothing serious’ according to Wenger, and the captain should be available for Friday night.
Looking forward to seeing Lacazette in the first real game of the season next week. Özil, Rambo and Sanchez can be left out as we won’t need them against Leicester and to give them a further weeks rest.
I think have Özil and Sanchez in the team will give Lacazette the assist he needs and we can see the goals coming in from him as expected.
Looking forward to seeing our best XI play
Imagine the 1st XI of Cech: Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Martesacker, Kolasinac: Ramsey, Xhaka: Alexis,Ozil and Lacazette. On paper we can beat anyone
1st XI:
Cech
Mustafi- Kos- Montreal
Bellerin- Lemar -Xhaka- Sead
Ox – LAcazette – Alexis
Tough to leave Nacho out of that. Myself, I’d put him out there and sit Mustafi
Mustafi,kos and monreal at the back
I would probably put Ox in on the right. Ox + Kolasinac on the wings would be brutal.
Agreed-except they play the games on grass, not on paper!
Give them a rest? A rest from what???
A rest from the Big Fucking Gash.
A week of recovery from injury? Even if they’re not serious, why not? It’s not like we rely on them to beat Leicester. They’ll see plenty of action soon enough.
If Iwobi, Welbeck, and Ox can play like today, make so many run and dribble, i think losing Ozil isn’t a big deal, especially if Sanchez fit, it’s okay.
What are the chances that kick was from the Bosnian hulk?
That was my first thought too. The guy’s a beast! Glad he’s out beast…
Yeah except he will flatten everyone in training haha.
Hopefully Kolasinac pummels the shit outta Mahrez who then decides he’d rather join Arsenal than go up against Sead again. Would have preferred Lemar but right now we seem to be playing a waiting game and I am not sure Monaco will let Lemar leave unless we bid an atrocious amount of money.
Mahrez is like a little stick man, he’d just bounce off him
The only flaw in your argument is that if he joined us Mahrez would have to train against Sead every day
Fear can be a powerful motivator.
Yeah that’s why we’ve brought in Lehmann.
I cant see mahrez being a very good signing for us. He wont oust ozil or alexis, and hes not wing back. So where does he play?
Alexis…not trying to read too much into it but he very quickly handed the charity shield back down the line. There was a long gaze from a concerned Gabriel (bless him) I think unless its City only with the bid, he’s gone. On the bench for opener bc he will be “short” or something likely. Potentials on the continent may include Monaco, PSG (again) who knows maybe even Barca. Italian clubs also have spending power now with Chinese backers but they will probably await some of the top predators to commit elsewhere. To me, we should not get carried away… Read more »
I think only the players in the match’s squad held up the shield.
All the Arsenal fans I speak to seem convinced that Mertesacker will not play a big role on the pitch for us this season. Injury permitting, I think they’re in for a surprise. That role at the centre of our back three, standing tall and strong, and directing the more mobile teammates around him, could be the bedrock of a title challenge.
I would still like a new central midfielder, but that one addition might just be enough to do it.
There were many fans here calling for Per when we went to a back 3.
Per at the centre flanked by Mustafi and Kos is a perfect 3. It means his lack of pace is negated but his reading of the game, aerial strength and the fact he sits deep, rather than attacking the ball like all our CBs do provide balance.
It’s like the Per-Kos partnership without Per regularly being exposed to pace.
Tis but a flesh wound
One of those games that’s 50/50
Throughout the 90 we we’re worth the win.
Xhaka was different class, Souness called him a ‘run of the mill midfielder”
Its the reason why Arsene has managed at the top level for 30+ years and why Souness is sat in a Sky studio
Don’t forget Souness thought Ali Dia was a good player.
The injury I want an update on is Theo’s hair. Who the fuck did that to him?
It’s a pretty serious injury to be sure
well, hopefully they will be fit for friday.
Today we’ve seen some negative and some positive things: firstly Bellerin and Iwobi are out of form, Ox still can’t produce end product, Holding trying to complicate too much. We lack simple game plan, when Giroud is in you cross into, when Lacatte is in, you play through ball, not the other way around.
Elneny was solid today (hopefully not just today), Kolasinac is beast, our attack is lively, we won. Now time to make some business in market and start the season with a win. COYG!
I thought Iwobi played splendidly in the absense of our German wizard.
Oxlade-Chamberlain too, he was blowing by defenders like they were pylons.
i hate to read ramsey and a “small injury” in the same sentence!
Agreed
I love Rambo and in a 3 I think he’ll thrive.
Thought Elneny was v good today.
whilst everyone is focused on Lemar I’d much prefer Us to snatch Kovacic
Kovacic is attacking midfielder, different than Lemar
Cazorla was also a No10 when we signed him.
Is kovacic in any way related to covfefe?
I thought Elneny was great personally.
I think so too, and top of his great personality, he played well yesterday.
On top*
thats what you call taking one for the team again led by example to a well deserved win i thought regardless of the pens
Absolutely cannot rush Ramsey back with his injury history of late. No need to with the way Elneny played today, he was IMMENSE.
He’s getting use too the teammates and the tactics. While Ramsey adds something to the attacking play of the squad with his runs from midfield, Elneny has this ever-present and settling quality in his game.
BIG FUCKING GASH.
If Alexis is ‘short of competition’ then surely a run out from the bench yesterday would have been a benefit for him?