Ahead of the Champs League: how’s the injury situation?

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Untold Injury Index – Gameweek 12

By Dale Higginbottom

Wow, those international breaks have been kind on us this season. As far as I can see no additions to our injury list as a result of internationals. We have had one additional player make his way onto the crocked list this week, however this not whilst on international duty. Carl Jenkinson, who has been progressing very well in his first season (see Walters article from last week), unfortunately was discovered to have a stress fracture and so will miss the next few weeks. It’s a big shame for him as this was a great chance for him to get game time with Sagna also out. We wish him all the best of luck with his recovery.

But enough of that let’s get into the numbers.

A = Ankle K = Knee
B = Back L = Achilles
C = Calf M = Muscle
D = Dead Leg N = Hip
E = Hamstring R = Rib
F = Fatigue/Lack of Fitness S = Shoulder
G = Groin T = Thigh
H = Head Injury/Concussion U = Unknown
I = Illness Y = Hand
J = Foot Z = Broken Leg

 

Norwich Vs Arsenal (1-2)

Injuries Norwich (4 + 0S) Arsenal (6 + 0S)
Goalkeeper N/A N/A
Defence Ayala (K), Ward (K), Whitbread (E) Sagna (A,6), Gibbs (M,6), Jenkinson (B,2)
Midfield N/A Wilshere (A,12), Diaby (A,12), Miyaichi (A.3)
Attack Vaughan (K) N/A
Additional issues N/A N/A
Suspended N/A N/A

 

 

Chelsea Vs Liverpool (1-2)

Injuries Chelsea (2 + 0S) Liverpool (2 + 0S)
Goalkeeper Hilario (N,6) N/A
Defence N/A Robinson (A,4)
Midfield Essien (K,12) Gerrard (A,8)
Attack N/A N/A
Additional issues N/A Carragher returned from injury but was an unused substitute.
Suspended N/A N/A

Tottenham Vs Aston Villa (2-0)

Injuries Tottenham (3 + 0S) Aston Villa (2 + 0S)
Goalkeeper N/A N/A
Defence Dawson (L,8), Corluka (A.4) Lichaj (N)
Midfield Huddlestone (A,8), Kranjcar (A,7) N/A
Attack N/A Delfouneso (E)
Additional issues Van der Vaart was a slight doubt with a hamstring injury but he started and played 69 mins. Agbonlahor and Petrov were both slight doubts for the game but both started and played the whole game.
Suspended N/A N/A

 

 

Man City Vs Newcastle (3-1)

 

Injuries Man City (1 + 0S) Newcastle (5 + 0S)
Goalkeeper N/A N/A
Defence N/A Williamson (A)
Midfield Hargreaves (C,5) Marveaux (G), Obertan (J), Tiote (K)
Attack N/A Best (G)
Additional issues Nasri was a doubt but started and played the whole game. Aguero was also a slight doubt but he also started the game. Shola Ameobi was a doubt with a hamstring injury but was included in the squad.
Suspended N/A N/A

 

 

Swansea Vs Man Utd (0-1)

 

Injuries Swansea (3 + 0S) Man Utd (7 + 0S)
Goalkeeper N/A N/A
Defence Tate (Z), Caulker (K) Rafael (S,12), Smalling (J,5)
Midfield Bodde (K) Gibson (A,10), Cleverley (A,6), Anderson (U,2)
Attack N/A Owen (T,6), Welbeck (M,3)
Additional issues Dobbie returned to the squad, he was a late substitute. Young returned to the squad, he was an unused sub. Evra, who is suffering from a virus, had to be replace early in the second half.
Suspended N/A N/A

 

So, United still on top of the injury table and it seems that these injuries have “unsettled United” according to the manager. Well, join the club Sir Alex, we’ve been unsettled by injuries for at least the past 4 seasons. Arsenal are second again (our usual resting place) and the remaining teams are just mopping up around our feet.

Arsenal are really building up a good run of form and our fixture list over the next few weeks looks very kind to us so, there’s a good chance that this will continue. I thought our make-shift right-back had a good game and Theo told his critic’s to shut up in true style, giving the Norwich left-side plenty to deal with. The big things from the game though was the three points and an injury-free game, can’t really ask for any better.

Elsewhere..

There were no major shocks, City beat a Newcastle side suffering a few injuries, United struggled in Wales in-part due to their injury list but still managed three points, the two inconsistent teams played at Stamford Bridge with the visitors scoring a late one, oh and the Totts won again.

Tottenham’s win was pretty much expected given their form and their win sees the top seven in the league now break away from the rest by a clear 7 points. Not really sure about ‘arry’s claims that the Totts could win the league though, a bit far-fetched that one. We all know they won’t and if there was any sniff of that being a possibility, Adebayor would suddenly be recalled and find himself warming the City bench.

Actually, talking about the league, there’s been a real bunching-up over the past few weeks. Newcastle and Chelsea’s defeats and wins for Liverpool and Arsenal has meant it’s now just 3 points between 3rd and 7th. A top-four place come May 2011 is certainly looking much more realistic that it was a little over a month ago.

This is now the crunch time of the season. There are no international games (except African Nations Cup) for over three months so this is where team spirit and unity will really make a big difference.  We’re back to Champions League in midweek before Fulham at home and the injury news is one in, one out. Diaby in for Rosicky who has a small thigh strain. We’re all hoping for an injury free game on Wednesday, particularly for Abou’s sake.

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“Making the Arsenal” – the book of Arsenal’s rebirth

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8 Replies to “Ahead of the Champs League: how’s the injury situation?”

  1. Nice that we’re still not on top of the injury list. Though am I right in thinking that the last 2 weeks in November tend to be when all our players begin to tire and pick up muscle strains? Perhaps it would be wise to lay off the full matches in training for a couple of weeks while we’re already playing 2 games a week, if they haven’t already.

  2. Thanks Dale for this review.

    Lets hope for Diaby that he finally can stay fit. I hope the surgery finally completed his rehabiliation from his broken leg/ankle a few years back because I do think he still is suffering from that injury. A bit sad for Rosicky that he will not be able to play against his former team.

    I think the return from Diaby can also mean that Ramsey might get a rest every now and then. We don’t want to overplay him now. He has a lot of games to play in the future and we should give him a rest if possible. Or next weekend.

    Oh and is Hargreaves injured? What a surprise… I think City just gave him a contract to be sure that they have a player on the injury list.

  3. Hmmm…well I’ve been saying that the media is Anti-Arsenal for the last 10 years.

    here’s a new twist, watched the last 10 minutes of Chelsea on ITV fully expecting Arsenal updates should they occur…

    Nothing Nada Zilch….

    So assumed Arsenal had 1-0 as when I left the game on Yahoo.

    After watching 10 minutes of adverts and had-wringing after the Chelsea game, with no mention of Arsenal’s fate, I reckoned that I would just confirm that the game hadn’t died of Tubercolsis.

    OH! 2 goals in the last 10 minutes!

    No updates on ITV, no mention of Arsenal after the game ….

    Shocking …. except that “shocking’ more correctly applies to Senior Newspaper Editors brow-beating and denigrating the Mcanns

  4. Who gives a f*ck about incompetent pundits, and who gives a f*ck about retarded commentators (you don’t want to hear Macedonian commentator on CL game believe me…).

    For now, I can just say…one more pint for Alex Song!!! (and of course, the Arsenal team)!

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