Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team news update ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Leicester City.
The Gunners take on the Foxes still looking for a first away point in 2018, and after Sunday’s celebratory atmosphere at the Emirates, this is bound to be something of anti-climax.
Speaking to the press this morning, the manager updated on the latest injury and availability news when it comes to his squad.
“Well, we have four players who are out. If you count Cazorla, we have Ozil, Koscielny, and Elneny.
“We’ll check everybody today, we had a rest day yesterday. Will I leave one or two out, maybe? We play again on Sunday.”
The manager also reported that a ‘devastated’ Laurent Koscielny would be out of action for 6 months as the seriousness of his Achilles injury was confirmed.
Any hopes that we might get to see Santi Cazorla in an Arsenal shirt again were dashed, as the Frenchman said it was too risky to use him at this point of his recovery.
“No, he will not be ready to play in the final game,” he said. “He is doing quite well, but the medical staff tell me it’s too risky.”
He also touched on the Mesut Ozil situation, and insisted the German international was suffering from a back problem, and not picking and choosing his games as reported by one of the most noxious tabloids.
“Football players are not like that,” said the Frenchman. “He wanted to play on Sunday, but hurt his back at half-time in the Madrid game. I can understand it, but overall no, he’s injured – he’s injured.
“It looks like that sometimes a player can go over the pain for one game, but they inflame the injury.”
Özil haters need to see a doctor. Doctor Zhivago might pop them some uppers
I’m not an Ozil hater but he needs to up his game big time! If the new manager sticks with 4-3-3, how does Ozil fit into that long term? Play him on the wing? Xhaka or a specialist DM behind him and Ramsey/Wilshere? We would get overrun in midfield just like we have against the bigger teams for the past 3-4 seasons. Either we set up to give him a free role with the midfield defensively set up, he ups his game defensively or we look to sell and bring in someone who will do what is needed to win.… Read more »
Get him to contribute much more? Is the margin between him and the second most assisting player in the whole of Europe not big enough? Haven’t we just retired the reason we constantly get overrun not just in midfield, but defense as well? Maybe not eh? Defo Ozil’s fault, you can see that just by looking at the mess the German national side is having to carry such a lazy performer. We don’t bloody deserve him.
We deserve more actually! He goes missing in the big games. He doesn’t track back, doesn’t get stuck in. I never said he isn’t brilliant going forward!
But sure its ALL been Wengers fault or ‘the reason’ as you put it!
FFS
You sound a little (well, more than a little) like one of those commentators who say things like “in my day that would have been a good tackle; yes, he went in with both feet and broke his leg, but he got the ball, didn’t he?” It doesn’t matter how many statistics you are shown about Ozil and big games (when, by definition, we play quality sides that know that stopping Ozil is the key to winning), it doesn’t matter if he creates chance after chance. I would say Ozil’s main fault is that he should try to score more… Read more »
I just like players to play with 100 percent effort and not let someone run past them with the ball.
At one stage during the match on Sunday. Aubameyang spotted a gap in defence and ran 60 yards to put the ball out at his own corner-flag. That’s all it takes – to be switched on, and willing to put in a defensive shift when needed.
I am old fashioned too!! I loved the midfield of Morrow, Hillier and Selley that helped win the ECWC Cup in 1994! Pure graft and defensive nous in that team kept Parma at bay!
Yes, but Aubameyang had given the ball away in the first place and chased back to atone. (I like Aubameyang, just pointing it out.)
An example of what I meant by statistics: you like players who give 100 percent effort, implying that Ozil does not. And yet, he regularly runs more than anyone else on the pitch. There must be a complicated explanation for that.
Fair enough, I just think he could do more and especially last week. For the money he is on he should be at the level of griezemann or De Bruyne and he simply isn’t.
please for heavens sake….stop moaning. Its been this incessant whiny noise for years now…..please take a break….you have caused players to leave, manager to go, fans to stop coming to forums and matches and arsenal becoming a laughing stock. please stop. stop the whining. stop. stop. stop.
let’s sell Ozil and replace him with Milner, Shaqiri or Herrera. That’ll surely be take us to the next level…. and if not then we can always pretend we loved Ozil and didn’t drive him out of the club
4 tackles out of 4 vs Madrid, others?
Hating only hurts the hater. See a shrink man!
But sorry, why on earth would anybody hate Ozil! Can we not introduce some civility to Arsenal, it used to be such a classy club. You might not appreciate him as a player, I accept that, but hate is a very strong sentiment.
Don’t understand why Ozil is being so heavily criticized.Thought he produced 2 cutbacks but none of our strickers could latch on though,missed Giroud big time
Its not just Athletico last week but he has a fair amount of matches where he is virtually anonymous. I just think for what he has been and is being paid he could do a lot more.
When I think of a player who can grab a game and really change the outcome, I think of Pires, Henry, Bergkamp et al. I don’t think of Ozil and he needs to do more in big games.
Ozil has given us so many memorable performances! He absolutely destroyed the Barcas and the Bayerns in our big CL encounters.. Who cares if he missed the penalty against Bayern in 2014 during the first 20 mins which was probably our most productive 20 mins in the CL over the past 5-6 years. How breathtaking he was in these games! almost won us the games single handedly.. Players considered to be in a similar league like David Silva, Eriksen, Coutinho, Modirc, Kroos are so overrated.. All they do is produce week in week out. Anyone can do that.. Real talent… Read more »
Sarcasm really doesn’t become you…clashes with your eyes!
Last chance to see Santi on the pitch for us, I’m afraid of that.
Ozil – so many fabricated stories of how he is avoiding playing when he is one of the players that plays the most games for us, season after season. I think he is a good guy.
Good point and some of the players that have played the most over the last few years have had their bodies fail at the demand. Take Santi and Koscielny in particular, up until their major injuries they played nearly every game. Xhaka and Bellerin do too but I guess their youth is helping them. Also Santi’s and Kos’s injuries are seem to stem from that part of the body working more than it wants to I think.
Yes we need to find a way to prevent overplaying our players. Our best 11 can compete but the rest of the squad is poor.
Let’s win the remaining matches.
I wonder how Ozil hurt his back? Not with a beautiful blonde, I hope! The Ozil situation stinks. How come he just happens to be injured every other game? How come the games he misses tend to be the ones against the minor sides? The worst thing about all this is that Ozil is the highest paid player at the club. For 350k a week he should be turning out at every game. Maybe he has a recurring injury, but if so why did he play for the full 90 minutes against Athletico? I wonder how the rest of the… Read more »
Well i agree with the last part…..
There is so little about this comment that makes any sense whatsoever…..it’s actually mildly impressive that you managed to concoct that much crap into so few words. Kudos.
Ozil has been a complete waste of money to Arsenal. He has never played well in games that matter for us and for 350k a week! Think on folks not one club came in for him when he was available on a free. Apart from us.
Yes a total waste of money. The most creative player of n the Premiership with more assists and chances created than any other player. It is a total fallacy that he never turns up for big matches, that he is lazy and he misses so many games through injury. He was never on a free transfer and is a great signing. Looking forward and to see him next seasonn
For me Ozil should have gotten a highly incentivised deal like Jack. That may have turned him into an impact player. Cesc was as much creative as him and was also a big impact or big moment player. At age 18, Cesc was picked by Spain to play the last PK in a final. He was also played in CF position because that allowed Spain to perform even better.
Yeah, we would’ve been better off without all his goals and assists.
Weve got ozil he’s always ill i just dont think you understand hes paid 350 grand he doesnt give a damn.
The rest of the squad feels ok with it because they are not sold that line. They know firsthand he’s not 100%
But well, let’s believe Keown and his stupid articles because he has a link with the club so he knows more than the medical team.
For all of you who want to believe Martin Keown, I remind you of what Mertesacker said to him, after winning the FA Cup for us: “don’t write me off, Martin.”
But hasn’t Mert written himself off afterwards?
Maybe Per has written himself off. Maybe he hasn’t. The point he was making to Keown was that he should be given the merit of his performances. Yes he’s been in the twilight of his career for the last few seasons. But he knew that. Firstly by retiring from international duty, and subsequently taking on less and less of a playing role. That said, we can see that keeping him around has improved players like Chambers and Holding. I’m actually really happy he’s going off to coach the academy. Keeps him around the club and who knows, in the future,… Read more »
Keown who said he was a fan of Mertesacker but struggled to see how he could pull out a big performance having not played for a year ? You mean the same as all of us then ???? We all prayed BFG would pull out a bit performance but if you try to say you saw that coming you are 100% a liar.
Have a go at Keown by all means but having a go at a perfectly reasonable comment he made is just silly & has no relevance to the Ozil comments.
If Oil had been fit on Sunday I think he probably would have been on the bench against Burnley anyway.
As for why he played the full 90 mins in Madrid, perhaps because at half time we were 1-0 down and he felt he ought to stay on and try to help the team rescue the situation.
If he had gone off, I’m sure you would have been on here criticising him for hiding at half time and wimping out of helping his team, etc.
Something tells me he can’t win in your eyes.
What people fail to understand about the Ozil situation is that it is not just about Sunday’s game.
The amount of “sickies” the guy has thrown in this season is absolutely ridiculous and the conclusion that he is cosseted and treated differently by Arsene is not far-fetched.
Very good player but he needs to up his game, do more! A strong manager will have very little time for him if his attitude to his job does not change.
AND they want superjack to sign for peanuts in comparison!!!. I wonder what theyre offering rambo!!!!
If I had an opportunity to ask the board for one favour – just one favour, it would be to give Santi Cazorla a contract extension.
Oh! Arsene would do it…certainly.
I’m sure he’s more than welcome to stay on a pay as you play deal
When will some Arsenal fans realize that all the tabloid press is in for is the money … and part of this is creating a narrative that’s easy to write and capable of delivering an irresistible headline. Just take a step back and think for a moment. He’s foreign. He’s Muslim. He has a funny name. He looks odd. Did we fight two world wars so that he can come over to our night clubs, take our women, and STEAL a first team place at Arsenal from one of our own. Now think of other Arsenal players (vilified in the… Read more »
Thank you Rory I agree with every word you say. The rubbish written about Ozil and Xhaka is so sickening
Sorry Rotty. Preemptive text strikes
Fuck me. It’s embarrassing you write that 3rd paragraph
There are minorities everywhere who are wrong and don’t speak for us all. You imply everyone is racist. Christ generalisations like yours is like saying everyone in labour is antisemitic and all Muslims hate gay people
He never implied that “everyone is racist”. He was talking about the tabloids, think of Sun and the Daily Mail.
Don’t forget the mirror or does that not fit your agenda?
Ok the Mirror too.
I have no agenda.
So stand up against those ‘minorities everywhere’ instead of pointing out the obvious – that they don’t speak for us. Weird how some people get awfully defensive when the topic of racism or bigotry is mentioned – it’s embarrassing. Thou dost protest too much.
Thanks Jeremy Corbyn/John McDonnell
Greg, I am neither. Whatever fits your agenda, though.
Greg, these weren’t meant as generalisations, but you’re spot on that it’s embarrassing that in 2018 anything like this gets to be written at all. That said, I cannot see how I imply that everyone is a racist if the demographic I’m having a go at is the gutter press penning garbage that they hope will sell. Again, step back and think for a moment. Look at our first team. The majority are foreign. At least Ozil, Mustafi, Xhaka, Elneny, and Kolasinac could well be Muslim (not that I know, care to know, or think it’s any of my business),… Read more »
It is sad agreed. But it isn’t just the tabloid press is it? The guardian the times and the telegraph have all been critical of ozil this season. They have all been critical of arsene Wenger too. If ozil was called Smith and was English he would still deserve criticism and questions asked of him. Because he’s not shouldn’t give him a layer of protection.
Rightly or wrongly he is one of the highest paid players in the world and so expectations are very high. He can be incredible but he needs consistency
You are awfully worried about people ‘getting a layer of protection’. No one on this thread is asking for that. He should not get additional criticism because he’s not English and named Smith. Nothing the OP said is invalided because he didn’t list out every new organisation. You’re grasping at straws to ensure you validate your world regarding ‘others’ and how they deserve no special treatment – which no one asked for. But if it gets you off, have your last word.
Oh for chrissake–look at the exaggerated praise for people like Milner or Henderson, for “honest” players like Carrick, for Eric Dier. Then go watch Ozil.
Tabloïds are not criticizing Mohamed Salah though. They didn’t criticize Mahrez two years ago.
Excellent comment, what the fuck is wrong with people
Your argument about racist subtext might be more valid if the tabloids weren’t creaming themselves over Mo Salah (you know, that foreign Muslim that plays for Liverpool?).
Could it not just be that they’re scummy, two-bit journos that appeal to the lowest common denominator (i.e. because he doesn’t “run araand a bit” he must be a work-shy slacker)?
Sometimes a player is so good–and so popular with the actual supporters–that the tabloids have to get on board. That’s the case with Salah but, even there, there’s a lot of absurd praise for people like Milner or Robertson or Alexander-Arnold (scorched by every good winger in every match I have watched Liverpool).
Football, and especially the Prem, is genuinely international. My favourite players next year, I think, will be a German of Turkish background, and a Gabonese/French/Spaniard. I also have lot of admiration for a Welshman, an Englishman or two, and a couple of French guys.
Here’s the thing about Salah, Milner, Henderson and Alexander-Arnold: they all play for the media favourite, Liverpool.
On top of that, they play a high-intensity, high impact (but not entirely subtle) brand of football that sits well with the average British football fan’s sensibilities.
Arsenal and Özil on the other hand, do not.
I don’t disagree that it’s lazy and sensationalist, but it doesn’t have to be racist. Plenty of people can quite easily be horrible without it being because of racism. Jose Mourinho buys and plays a lot of non-white players and he’s a cunt, for example.
Are some (most) of the gutter press racist ? Obviously. Does that lead to some of their criticism of Ozil & others? Possibly. Where Rotty’s comments annoy me is this presumed link between how the gutter press treat a player (in this case Ozil, and often others) & anyone on here who criticizes him. It’s total horseshit. Whenever Gooners criticise a player, it cannot possible be in your mind that they have simply formed their own opinion. Nope, forming your opinion is only for the positive commenters. You know, like the hundreds who posted about Ospina & his ‘calm presence’.… Read more »
Do vaguely remember seeing him go down holding his side after getting clattered against Athletico. Admittedly weighed in when the pile-on was happening…
We all know he’s World Class…and his numbers are astronomically good week in week out…and he’s played a crazy amount of minutes since he joined…and he’s 29 now and our star player and we should protect him…
…it’s just, he doesn’t show enough pashun.
Doesn’t get stuck in.
he played his lungs out against ATM….was in the zone….trying ..trying…recycling…trying…moving always……just didnt come off.
Which paper? The one that posts a tweet of aw falling over as a major point in his time in charge?
Seems like the virus is attacking the back now. He needs some very strong antivirals
One of the many things I loved about having Arsene Wenger as our manager was pride. I was proud he was one of us, that he was ours. Even when we were building rather than winning. Wenger was special. He was unique. The same is true of Mesut Ozil. Fuck. One minute people are screaming that he’s not signing contracts and committing to the club. The next, that he’s an overly-sensitive/sickly/indolent/waif that’s not worth a place in our team. WTF? All because someone wrote something unsubstantiated in a newspaper renowned for its vileness and disconnection with actual facts? Again, I… Read more »
i think some people want to destroy the pride of Arsenal. Its just a full fledged assault on the norms of decency and fairness that this club is known for. It seems we all will be assaulted by trolls, till we yield and become valueless screaming bigoted incel trumpsters.
I saw the back page headline in that noxious tabloid ( it was shown on BBC football page). Written by a total sh!tstirring scumbag. How these parasites can earn a living off the back of talented hardworking footballers is beyond me. Is there no censure for writing this sort of crwap?! Grrr ?
I’m ok with ozil missing the occasional away game against teams like stoke where he isnt going to deliver but I do worry about his general health, he’s had a lot of colds and flus for a guy with his fitness levels.
When he plays his running numbers are one of the highest in the team despite appearances
Why should he not deliver though?
Now that Arsene is leaving, the tabloids need to stir up more trouble at Arsenal and what better way than to pick on the highest paid player. I was a little disgusted at Martin Keown’s outburst the other day and the fact that Jermaine Jenas a Sp*rs guy stuck up for him tells you everything you need to know. I get that Martin is a passionate Arsenal man and a real winner but I wonder how he would have responded to such criticism of him when he was playing?
What criticism would you have had of Martin? I think he would know himself and would take any on board if there was to be any. He gave everything in games and he doesn’t believe ozil does, what’s disgusting about that?
you think a player gets 350k pw, a worldcup medal, 3 trophies and 3 shields with Arsenal ( ending the drought) and the #10 position at Real Madrid without giving everything in games?
and btw…cant u see with your own eyes?
Keowns cuntery (it can never be justified as punditry) is what agitated this whole argument about Mesut. I don’t understand how anyone can be allowed to spew personal and poisonous vitriol against anyone, without anything to back it up except that he was once a bit part player in the invincibles season. After the way he insulted our BFG I lost any respect for Keown that I ever had, the way he speaks about Mesut is a disgrace. Mesut is not the biggest, strongest person, every time he plays he puts in a massive effort, if you can’t see that… Read more »
‘I don’t understand how anyone can be allowed to spew personal and poisonous vitriol against anyone, without anything to back it up except that he was once a bit part player in the invincibles season.’
Oh, the irony…….
As I have mentioned before – 1) Santi : We all love him. BUt any feature of Santi next season (if he should be around) will strictly be bonus. To plan with him in mind would be suicidal. Strictly, Wenger failed to move on and replace Santi for 3 seasons with detriment to midfield and overall balance of the team. With Granit a massive improvement, Elneny a utility player with also good improvement, we have to cast an eye on Jack. I felt (as I have said for some time) that Iwobi propspered in the central role carrying the ball… Read more »