Morning, something of a bombshell to start with today – it seems Robin van Persie’s injury is much worse than first diagnosed. The club released a statement this morning, saying:
Upon his return [from injury], the Arsenal medical team conducted a thorough review of his scans, his early injury management and the treatment he had received. Having scrutinised these in detail and assessed the response of his ankle, the Club’s medical team concluded that further investigation and opinion was required.
Advice was sought from the leading ankle specialist Mr Niek van Dijk, who confirmed that more extensive damage had been suffered than was first diagnosed. In order to repair his ankle, Robin will undergo surgery next week in Amsterdam to reconstruct the ligaments. The Club’s medical team anticipate that a full recovery will take between four and five months.
Firstly it’s awful news for Robin who had been playing so well this season. I’ve mentioned before how unlucky he is with injuries and it seems the mirror he broke and salt he spilled and cracks on the pavement he stood on and the ladders he walked under are intent on disrupting his career in a big, big way. That it happened in a meaningless international friendly makes it all the more frustrating. All we can do is wish him a successful recovery, and as speedy one as possible. He speaks here about the injury, the placenta treatment and the rest.
For us we have to look at what it means. Our best striker is now out for more or less the rest of the season. The only player we have who can really play the same role, Nicklas Bendnter is out injured as well although expected back reasonably shortly. When he does get back you have to think it’s a big chance for him but another injury to him or a run of poor form and we don’t have an obvious replacement. I’m sure the papers will be full of speculation in the days ahead but you can’t help thinking this is a problem that needs to be sorted with the chequebook in January.
That is unless one of the others really steps up and shows they can do it. As I said Bendtner is the obvious man to fill the gap, but there’s Vela, Eduardo and even Theo Walcott who the manager says can be a top striker:
I believe he has all the assets to be a fantastic central player. I’m very conscious of that because of the quality and the timing of his runs.
However, there’s still work to be done:
At the moment, his strengths are more central to the counter-attacking role than the distribution role. That’s what he has to add to his game.
So while it might be a role he can perform in the future it seems unlikely he’s going to be used there at the moment. And with the manager hinting he’ll be starting from the bench so as to ease him back into competitive action after his injury then he’s really not an option right now.
Ahead of tomorrow’s game Arsene has laid down the gauntlet for his players to show that they’re ready to challenge for the title, saying:
I think there is a period for any team to come out and show its strengths. I think for our team this moment has come. We are not any more a team that has to be considered to be young. We have the strengths and we want to show on Sunday that we want to beat them.
Winning will certainly show we’ve got the mettle, going into this game with defensive worries and issues, two of our main strikers missing and our physical threat reduced due to their absences. Defeat tomorrow is unthinkable and we need to be properly switched on. Which is why I found the comments attributed to Andrei Arshavin a bit worrying. He’s quoted after Russia’s World Cup play-off exit:
I am inconsolable and desolate at what has happened. My family keep telling me that I should forget it as soon as possible, that I should now switch to the club matters and the Champions League but that’s easier said than done.
Nothing revives me so far. When Arsene Wenger asked me what state I was in, I honestly told him that at the moment I just do not want to play football at all. He talked to me for a long time. He said, too, that I need to switch my attention. But I cannot do it yet.
Now, I like Andrei, he’s a fantastic footballer when he’s in the mood, and while I can understand him being disappointed Russia didn’t qualify, he needs to get the fuck over and it and quickly. Arsenal pay his wages, we’ve got a huge game tomorrow and we need him 100% focussed on that, not moping around like a Smiths fans whose girlfriend actually is in a coma.
The boss is confident he’ll respond correctly and I really hope that’s the case because if we’re to beat Chelsea tomorrow then we need our best players to perform – and he is one of our best players. There’s no time to feel sorry for yourself in professional sport, winners react and move on, they don’t sit around grieving. Come on Arshavin, snap out of it.
Tomas Rosicky says we can’t be afraid of Chelsea’s physical threat and suggests we have to get stuck right into them. Yes please. I love when we get stuck in.
There’s a great interview with Cesc in the Mail today – well worth a read and the esteem he holds some of the younger players in is obvious. He says:
Aaron Ramsey has really developed. Physically he is bigger and more powerful, as you could see when we played Liverpool in the Carling Cup. If I go to sleep I will wake up and find him in my place. No, it is true. Wilshere will be a top player, too, and when he gets a bit older they will move him into the middle. They just need a run of games to gain confidence and they will be a big part of Arsenal’s future. A future I hope to be part of.
Lots of great stuff in there as Arsenal big up their charity of the season, the Great Ormond Street hospital.
Still no news as to William Gallas’s involvement tomorrow, you have to think they’re giving him as much time as possible before making a decision. He’ll want to play though, considering the opposition, but we’ll have to just wait and see.
More on the game and possible line-ups tomorrow. Until then, have a good Saturday and watch out for Italians doing sliding tackles. They’ll fuck you up.
