Arsenal have released another of their action-packed fitness bulletins, again reaffirming that Sead Kolasinac will return to training in October.
The Bosnian, who injured his knee in a pre-season friendly with Chelsea on 1 August was ruled out for 10 weeks at the time.
Obviously, that’s still some time away and, coupled with the injury to Ainsley Maitland-Niles – still out until November – it means we’re still heavily reliant on Nacho Monreal at left-back.
The medical department also reaffirmed that Carl Jenkinson (sprained ankle) and Laurent Koscielny (banjaxed Achilles) remain on the sidelines until November.
There was no mention of Mesut Ozil’s sniffly nose. ?
Unai Emery is expected to face the press this afternoon ahead of our trip to Cardiff City on Sunday, no doubt he’ll be asked if there are any other fitness doubts.
3 points please, want us moving up the table (and above United and Mourinho (specialist in failure) would be great).
we are already above them.
Good point, on goal difference. Change that to ‘further above them’ then!
Kolasinac has always been expected to return in October. Check the news from previous week. Even the original prognosis was ~2 months, which is from August to October.
So nothing new, really.
Such idepth information!
Perhaps that’s why the post above says ‘reaffirming’.
Imperative we win. Got a run of winnable games and we need to build some momentum. We pretty much the toughest two games we could have had to start. But we have a real chance to put some pressure on the teams above us if we win the next few.
Obamayang will not be available until after the SummerSlam Main event
Lol. Probably going to learn a few finishing moves over there. Good for us I say.
More like Kolasinac on demand.
Here’s how I think we can fit our best players together on the pitch:
Gk: Cech/Leno
CB: Lichtsteiner+Sokratis/Mustafi+Monreal
RW/LW: Bellerin+Kolasinac (when we want to play defensive against top teams) / Ramsey + Mhkitariyan (attacking play against weaker opposition)
CM : Torreira + Xhaka/Guendouzi
CAM: Ramsey (against high energy top sides)/Ozil (against sides that would allow him space)
ST: Laca + Auba
So basically a 3-5-2 with wings having defenders for top teams or attacker for inferior teams or teams that sit deep.
What do u guys think? (Not that Emery’s gonna listen to us:p. But just for fun)
I still prefer a 4-3-1-2 with a midfield diamond and our fullbacks providing width going forward. We’d need Xhaka and Torreira to basically stay home defensively left open by the fullbacks with only Ramsey as a true box to box midfielder. Ozil must do his pressing or at least covering passing lanes and getting into space to receive the ball immediately when we get it back. If his weaknesses don’t compensate for his strengths then bring Mikhi in on the left in a 4-3-3.
Cech
Bellerin Sokratis Mustafi Monreal
Ramsey Torreira Xhaka
Ozil
Laca Auba.