By Bulldog Drummond
Yes a shock announcement and the horror only comes because it is unbelievable. It really is because seemingly Arsenal have only one injury: Rob Holding. Arsenal have issued a statement which says, “”Holding had a concussion but now we need to follow the protocols and he won’t be able to travel.” Several websites however still have him in the team.
Leicester on the other hand have six injuries, which makes these figures seem like a complete reversal of what we have been looking at over the years. Since there is no table of Arsenal injuries to give you, here is the Leicester list from Physioroom.com
Perez has 16 appearances this season, Praet 13, Fofana has played 16 times, Justin 23, Maddison 23, and Morgan 3. So some of these players have been used quite regularly by the club.
Yet in their last ten games Leicester have not been doing at all badly.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 24 Jan 2021 | Brentford v Leicester City | W | 1-3 | FA Cup |
| 27 Jan 2021 | Everton v Leicester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 31 Jan 2021 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 03 Feb 2021 | Fulham v Leicester City | W | 0-2 | Premier League |
| 07 Feb 2021 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 10 Feb 2021 | Leicester City v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 13 Feb 2021 | Leicester City v Liverpool | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 18 Feb 2021 | Slavia Praha v Leicester City | D | 0-0 | Europa League |
| 21 Feb 2021 | Aston Villa v Leicester City | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 25 Feb 2021 | Leicester City v Slavia Praha | L | 0-2 | Europa League |
That’s five wins out of ten with just two defeats – and if we just focus on home games we get three wins out of five, no draws and two defeats.
| 19 Jan 2021 | Leicester City v Chelsea | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 31 Jan 2021 | Leicester City v Leeds United | L | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 10 Feb 2021 | Leicester City v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 13 Feb 2021 | Leicester City v Liverpool | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 25 Feb 2021 | Leicester City v Slavia Praha | L | 0-2 | Europa League |
So my point is, when they do lose, they lose at home, which must give us a chance.
Our last ten give us just four wins, two draws and four defeats.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 18 Jan 2021 | Arsenal v Newcastle United | W | 3-0 | Premier League |
| 23 Jan 2021 | Southampton v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 26 Jan 2021 | Southampton v Arsenal | W | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 30 Jan 2021 | Arsenal v Manchester United | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 02 Feb 2021 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal | L | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 06 Feb 2021 | Aston Villa v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 14 Feb 2021 | Arsenal v Leeds United | W | 4-2 | Premier League |
| 18 Feb 2021 | Benfica v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Europa League |
| 21 Feb 2021 | Arsenal v Manchester City | L | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 25 Feb 2021 | Arsenal v Benfica | W | 3-2 | Europa League |
Reducing that to the last five away games we have
| 23 Jan 2021 | Southampton v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 26 Jan 2021 | Southampton v Arsenal | W | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 02 Feb 2021 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal | L | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 06 Feb 2021 | Aston Villa v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 18 Feb 2021 | Benfica v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Europa League |
Effectively both those goals against Benfica were away. But following the diktats completely we have just one win in our last five away games. And there is no way around this, it is not great form. So what might give us hope?
First, we got through the Europa League matches even though we had to travel each time, and Leicester did not.
Second Aubameyang looks like he has returned to form.
Third, their injury crisis looks a lot worse than ours.
So yes I think there might be a bit of tunnel at the end of the light, or should that be the other way round? Perhaps.
More anon.
- How much does Arsenal need to spend to win more trophies?
- Arsenal had a model that worked, but then threw it all away
- Arsenal always do worse when they spend more on transfers: the facts
I hope this is the last time you use these fake headings. Next time i will delete your sight from my email system.
This is our best chance to get one over Leicester. If we fail to take, it’d go down as another massive low point of this season
Rob Holding is available – not available to travel was Thursday night. The website says he is back in training and available for selection.
A big test for Arteta today. As Mancity tie was a one sided affair even before a ball was kicked.This will be a make or break match. Lets see what Arteta has to offer. Will he folliw in Arsene Wengers footsteps and tries play positive attacking football or will adapt his own defence first Mourinho approcah?
Though people who think that they have got their Arsenal back have lost the case as we lost that Arsenal since Wenger left.
The golden days are gone and will never return.
King, reading Untold is of course a matter of choice. In this case, we’ve been using the “shock horror” phrase for so long as a way of making fun of the media I thought everyone recognised it. Your email reminds me to be more careful