I originally intended to get back a bit earlier, but nothing worth mentioning happened. Now, unfortunately, we do have something to talk about. I wish we didn't.
Yesterday news of Ozil's injury emerged and Arsenal's fan base erupted. With Ramsey and Arteta already out, it stretches our midfield situation to almost breaking point. What is much more important, however, is that we've lost our most valuable player, a man around whom the whole team can be built.
Remember how everyone said we're playing better without Ozil and then collectively bemoaned his absence at the start of the season? Back in August we were far from a cohesive unit and the German's return sparked us into life. Twice Ozil was deployed centrally after his come-back and on both occasions we've delivered stellar performances (3-0 against Villa and 4-1 against Gala). The German was less noticeable on the flank, but I've already stated, despite Mesut not buzzing around like Sanchez, he's no less influential. Even during the last game against Chelsea (when our number 10 was clearly nursing an injury), he fared better, statistically-wise, than Fabregas. We don't have a direct replacement for Ozil and I'm certain we're going to miss Mesut thoroughly.
I don't, for that reason, understand the reaction of some Arsenal "fans", who say Ozil was nicking a living anyway and there are better players on our team. There aren't. But what strikes me as the most stupid thing about such "fans" behavior, is how they say we should have signed Cesc. They've been repeating this since the start of the season, though their reasoning is, let's say, adaptable. They just take a jab when a merest opportunity presents itself. Disgusting.
Who could have foreseen an injury to the German? Or the downturn in Ramsey's form? We really do have a wealth of attacking players and re-signing Cesc was a risk, which the manager didn't take. Let's not forget the simple fact, that the Spaniard only plays in central midfield at Chelsea because he has Matic alongside him to do all the dirty work. We couldn't have played Cesc there, cause we don't have a powerful holding DM. Both Arteta and Flamini require help and they wouldn't have got much from Fabregas. While using Cesc as a 10 would have meant sacrificing Ozil. And, despite all the critic coming his way, I still think the German is the better player.
In an even worse twist, Koscielny seems to have been withdrawn from France's national team due to an achilles injury. We've known for some time now the Frenchman was carrying one, but we just couldn't allow to rest him. It all comes down to lack of proper cover, again. Had Debuchy been alright, we could have tried playing a central pairing of Mertesacker and Chambers, but Debuchy is out till new year. Moreover, this duo didn't seem to work properly on the only occasion we've seen it: against Everton.
All of this means Koscielny had to play and now we are at the crossroads. We all know how an injury to the achilles deteriorates over time. You can play with it for a while, but the longer you play, the more you aggravate it. And so the treatment would also take longer. Right now Kos does seem to be in a passable condition, so the decision to keep him wrapped in cotton wool is more of a precaution, but the Frenchman will require a lengthy treatment at some point. I only hope he holds out till January, when we'll have the chance to furiously search the transfer market for at least one centre-back. Two is better.
This grim news diverts our attention from the real problem: we're in the middle of yet another injury crisis and it's not even the middle of October. Debuchy and Giroud will be sidelined till at least early December and Ozil will be out longer still. And that's not to mention short-termers (Arteta, Ramsey), newly-returned Theo and Gnabry and a brittle French duo of Sanogo and Diaby. We have, at the very least, five injured players, none of whom will take part in our next game, and a suspended Chambers, of course. How can we possibly fight for anything with half the team out?!
What interests me most, is how exactly we manage to gather so many injures every year. It's been ongoing, yet no one can solve it. We've brought in Shad Forsythe and, while the new man will need some time, the situation definitely hasn't improved. We've conducted countless investigations into any possible reasons behind these injures and haven't found out anything.
What is it we are doing wrong? Is it the pitch at the Emirates, is it training methods? Players carrying on despite nursing knocks, like Ozil and before him, Wilshere? Perhaps short recovery periods after games? Is it down to our style of football or maybe we've just assembled the world's most brittle collaction of players? A combination of all these factors? I wish I knew.
I cannot express how tired I am to experience this Groundhog Day year after year after year. We've failed to challenge for trophies more than once because of our walking wounded and I fear this situation is still not behind us. It's sad really. All the good work in the transfer market undone and it's still early days. So much work to get the Club out of the financial hole and to work us into a position when we can genuinely compete, only for the injures to dent our hopes.
Alright, I think it's enough for today. Back in a couple of days, when I'll (hopefully) have better news.
Until then
Yesterday news of Ozil's injury emerged and Arsenal's fan base erupted. With Ramsey and Arteta already out, it stretches our midfield situation to almost breaking point. What is much more important, however, is that we've lost our most valuable player, a man around whom the whole team can be built.
Remember how everyone said we're playing better without Ozil and then collectively bemoaned his absence at the start of the season? Back in August we were far from a cohesive unit and the German's return sparked us into life. Twice Ozil was deployed centrally after his come-back and on both occasions we've delivered stellar performances (3-0 against Villa and 4-1 against Gala). The German was less noticeable on the flank, but I've already stated, despite Mesut not buzzing around like Sanchez, he's no less influential. Even during the last game against Chelsea (when our number 10 was clearly nursing an injury), he fared better, statistically-wise, than Fabregas. We don't have a direct replacement for Ozil and I'm certain we're going to miss Mesut thoroughly.
I don't, for that reason, understand the reaction of some Arsenal "fans", who say Ozil was nicking a living anyway and there are better players on our team. There aren't. But what strikes me as the most stupid thing about such "fans" behavior, is how they say we should have signed Cesc. They've been repeating this since the start of the season, though their reasoning is, let's say, adaptable. They just take a jab when a merest opportunity presents itself. Disgusting.
Who could have foreseen an injury to the German? Or the downturn in Ramsey's form? We really do have a wealth of attacking players and re-signing Cesc was a risk, which the manager didn't take. Let's not forget the simple fact, that the Spaniard only plays in central midfield at Chelsea because he has Matic alongside him to do all the dirty work. We couldn't have played Cesc there, cause we don't have a powerful holding DM. Both Arteta and Flamini require help and they wouldn't have got much from Fabregas. While using Cesc as a 10 would have meant sacrificing Ozil. And, despite all the critic coming his way, I still think the German is the better player.
In an even worse twist, Koscielny seems to have been withdrawn from France's national team due to an achilles injury. We've known for some time now the Frenchman was carrying one, but we just couldn't allow to rest him. It all comes down to lack of proper cover, again. Had Debuchy been alright, we could have tried playing a central pairing of Mertesacker and Chambers, but Debuchy is out till new year. Moreover, this duo didn't seem to work properly on the only occasion we've seen it: against Everton.
All of this means Koscielny had to play and now we are at the crossroads. We all know how an injury to the achilles deteriorates over time. You can play with it for a while, but the longer you play, the more you aggravate it. And so the treatment would also take longer. Right now Kos does seem to be in a passable condition, so the decision to keep him wrapped in cotton wool is more of a precaution, but the Frenchman will require a lengthy treatment at some point. I only hope he holds out till January, when we'll have the chance to furiously search the transfer market for at least one centre-back. Two is better.
This grim news diverts our attention from the real problem: we're in the middle of yet another injury crisis and it's not even the middle of October. Debuchy and Giroud will be sidelined till at least early December and Ozil will be out longer still. And that's not to mention short-termers (Arteta, Ramsey), newly-returned Theo and Gnabry and a brittle French duo of Sanogo and Diaby. We have, at the very least, five injured players, none of whom will take part in our next game, and a suspended Chambers, of course. How can we possibly fight for anything with half the team out?!
What interests me most, is how exactly we manage to gather so many injures every year. It's been ongoing, yet no one can solve it. We've brought in Shad Forsythe and, while the new man will need some time, the situation definitely hasn't improved. We've conducted countless investigations into any possible reasons behind these injures and haven't found out anything.
What is it we are doing wrong? Is it the pitch at the Emirates, is it training methods? Players carrying on despite nursing knocks, like Ozil and before him, Wilshere? Perhaps short recovery periods after games? Is it down to our style of football or maybe we've just assembled the world's most brittle collaction of players? A combination of all these factors? I wish I knew.
I cannot express how tired I am to experience this Groundhog Day year after year after year. We've failed to challenge for trophies more than once because of our walking wounded and I fear this situation is still not behind us. It's sad really. All the good work in the transfer market undone and it's still early days. So much work to get the Club out of the financial hole and to work us into a position when we can genuinely compete, only for the injures to dent our hopes.
Alright, I think it's enough for today. Back in a couple of days, when I'll (hopefully) have better news.
Until then