For a team challenging on many fronts like Arsenal, the manager, Arsene Wenger, would always want to have his best players at his disposal. So when the squad becomes plagued with injuries, it’s always a challenge. Before the international break, Arsenal had seven major injuries to the following players – Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (knee), Danny Welbeck (knee), Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Hector Bellerin (groin) and Theo Walcott (calf).
Jack Wilshere has recently spoken about his frustrations of missing out of being part of the team due to his niggling injuries and he hopes to return to full fitness sooner rather than later. The optimists say that he could return at Christmas but judging from Wilshere’s injuries in the past, I’d say early 2016. Theo Walcott’s calf injury is a rather strange as it didn’t look that bad on that fateful night in Hillborough. Some say he might be out till December and it’s really scary that Olivier Giroud could suffer some fatigue with no replacement in attack. We can try Alexis Sanchez there but he has his own fitness concerns to contend with. As for Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky, their knee surgeries were successful and they will be sidelined till early 2016 at best.
That leaves us with Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin. Ramsey twanged his hamstring in the Bayern win and Ox suffered his own hamstring injury in the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Hector Bellerin’s injury surfaced from the Swansea game. They have been replaced by Joel Campbell and Matt Debuchy but both players have put up hot and cold performances. Campbell marked his return to the team with a good goal against Swansea but he was piss poor in the games against Bayern Munich and Tottenham, to the point he was replaced by a defender, Kieran Gibbsm that salvaged a point in the North London Derby. Debuchy on the other hand struggled like the rest of his teammates at the Allianz Arena but he put up an improved performance against Spurs.
The Gunners will be boosted with the news that Ramsey, Ox and Bellerin will be returning to full fitness and will be available for selection in this weekend’s West Brom game. Their return brings back that much-needed competition for places and the duo of Campbell and Debuchy would have to be on their toes if they want to keep their places in the squad. The return of Ramsey and Bellerin is particularly key, as both players have combined superbly this season, offering the Gunners some guile and width down the right hand flank. With Campbell and Debuchy, most attacks have been built from the opposite flanks.
Bellerin recently won the Young Catalan Player of the Year award and the statisticians also tell us that he has created the most chances in the team. He’s clearly above Debuchy in the pecking order and his return is welcome.
It’s good to have them back.
Sayonara.
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