In the end this referee and injury nonsense has to stop

 

 

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By Tony Attwood

So now we learn that Gabriel Martinelli, having been brought back toward his form of days gone by, through careful nurturing and development, has gone off to play for Brazil and has consequently got himself injured.   And this having regained what appeared to be a guaranteed place in the team.

So we now have Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all picking up injuries playing for their country of choice.

Worse, instead of coming back to Arsenal for treatment, Martinelli decided to stay with the national team, whose interests are of course incredibly short term.   “Have him fit again for the next match,” is the normal response from national coaches.

And so we now find out that while on international duty, Martinelli sustained an injury issue and was reportedly sent for an MRI scan by the team doctor on a right calf injury. 

Now I am not suggesting there is anything amiss with the Brazilian national team’s medical department.  Of course not.  I have no information on them whatsoever.  It is just that their objectives are totally different from those of Arsenal.  Arsenal want their players to be as fit as possible for as much of the season as possible.  This is a totally different objective from that of the national team who want the player fit for the next game – or two games at most.

Now of course we also know that Bukayo Saka was injured playing for England.  At least he wasn’t then transported off to Finland.  And there is still no certainty as to when Martin Odegaard can return.

But at least we can be happy that Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey did not join their national teams.

Meanwhile, with Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko also seemingly injured we are going to have a very weakened team for the next match.

Last season the BBC’s chart of injuries showed just how well Arsenal were doing.  Arsenal had 23 separate injuries in the season compared with almost double that (45) for Manchester United and (43) for Chelsea.

The only club that came out of last season better than Arsenal was Fulhm with 22.  Manchester City had 26, three more than Arsenal.

So the official list of injuries players for Arsenal now reads Tierney, Odegaard, Zinchenko, White, Timber, Havertz, Saka.  The club that has more senior players out is Manchester United who have nine players down.

As for return dates Yahoo gives us

• Saka: unknown
• Havertz: fit for Bournemouth immediately after the international interruption
• Partey: “Medical issues” now seem to have cleared up, so ok for next game
• Martin Odeagaard: Possible return at the end of the month.
• Ben White: could be ready for the Bournemouth match.
• Jurien Timber: possibly available for the Bournemouth match
• Oleksandr Zinchenko: possible return for Bournemouth game
• Kieran Tierney: no expectation of return
• Neto: Can’t play against Bournemouth from whom he is on loan

Planet Football gives us a view on how the Arsenal situation compares with other clubs… they have Newcastle, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion with eight players down each.  So Arsenal are not the worst off in the Premier League, but not far off.

As for the cause in this dramatic rise since last year… well, maybe it is pure chance, or maybe defenders are going out to kick our players most often since they have realised that they can’t outplay them, or maybe referees are letting it be known that they will turn a blind eye to tackles against Arsenal.

The last comment in some ways seems preposterous, and yet the utter secrecy surrounding PGMO and all its activities means that we end up considering this, for the simple reason that if they had nothing to keep secret, they would surely be as open as, for example. the German League’s referees.

But then of course, it is a funny ol’ game.  And PGMO are right there at the heart of it.