Nothing much really happens during an international break, except when a Fantasy Football Manager like me is in anguish because five of my ‘players’ got injured during the break, and with me wisely making my transfers before the break, I’m the ‘f’ in the word f*cked. Enough about me and my FPL shenanigans for a minute. As an Arsenal fan, it was good seeing the lads do well for their respective nations and most importantly, stay fit, because there have been a couple of high-profile casualties during this window.
Here’s a detailed report on the Gunners that featured for their respective nations.
Olivier Giroud
Giroud has found himself on the fringes at Arsenal lately, no thanks to Theo Walcott’s blistering form but he would be proud to have notched up his 11th and 12th goal for France in their 2-1 win over Denmark. Both goals were close range finishes that was bread and butter stuff for the big Frenchman but we have seen him miss them too you know. He also featured in France’s whitewash of Armenia but he made a late substitute appearance.
Mesut Ozil
It was good seeing Ozil get back on the scoring act in Arsenal’s emphatic win over Manchester United but he played 180 minutes in Germany’s games this window. He was part of the German team that narrowly lost to the Republic of Ireland and he managed to claim an assist for Max Kruse in the 2-1 win over Georgia.
Wojciech Szczesny
Szczesny spent the entire time at the dugout as Poland grabbed a draw against Scotland in their first game before defeating the Republic of Ireland thanks to the red-hot Robert Lewandowski. That guy is in the form of his life at the moment and it can only get better. To think we are facing him soon 🙁
Alex Iwobi
Iwobi played in the last 11 minutes of Nigeria’s impressive 3-0 win over rivals, Cameroon. Goals from Efe Ambrose, Simon Moses and Watford’s Odion Ighalo settled the contest.
Santi Cazorla
The diminutive magician was on the bench in Spain’s slender win over Ukraine but he got in on the scoring act in the demolition of Luxembourg. It’s been a while since Cazorla scored, especially with his new withdrawn role in the club so it must have been nice for the Spaniard to get the opportunity to kiss those his tattoos again, as it has become his tradition when he finds the back of the net.
Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Walcott and the Ox featured in the win over Estonia with Walcott even getting a goal to continue his good run of form. However, Walcott remained on the bench as the Three Lions defeated Lithuania yesterday. The Ox managed to get a goal and Gibbs got 90 minutes under his belt. Games have been hard to come by for the defender, with Nacho Monreal in such fine form.
Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean hotshot is back to his scintillating best with six goals in his last three games but he suffered a groin injury that was meant to have prevented him for featuring for his beloved Chile. However, there’s no stopping Alexis, as he played all 90 minutes in Chile’s win over Brazil and he even scored the match clincher. Alexis is odds on to feature in Chile’s match against Peru tonight.
David Ospina
Since his horror show against Olympiakos, one wonders when Ospina would get some game time for the Gunners again but I have a hunch that he would be in goal when the Gunners visit Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup fourth round. However, Ospina kept a clean sheet in Colombia’s 2-0 win over Peru and will be in goal again when they visit Uruguay for what would be a daunting fixture for Jose Pekerman’s men.
Joel Campbell
Campbell featured in his country’s disappointing loss to South Africa and he would play a crest-fallen USA that recently lost their Conferederation Cup playoff spot to Mexico in a pulsating encounter.
Aaron Ramsey
Ramsey can beat his chest that he was part of the Welsh team that made history by qualifying for the European Championships for the first time in 57 years. Despite their 2-0 loss to Bosnia, Wales had done enough to secure qualification to this summer’s show piece in France. Ramsey will be part of the Welsh side that hosts minnows, Andorra, tonight.
Petr Cech
Cech watched in anguish from the bench as his team lost at home to Turkey. He will return in goal when the Czech visit the Dutch in what would be one hell of a match.
It’s good to know that most of the players have returned to North London unscathed and I certainly hope that Alexis and Ramsey would be free of any injuries after their matches tonight.
Sayonara.
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