Wenger could do worse than employ the same kind of tactics against Chelsea that Tottenham used yesterday. Make it damned hard for them to score and take what chances we get on the break. Classic away team spoiling tactics. Instead we will play as if we are the home team and leave acres of space for them to exploit time after time. Go on Arsene, surprise us and do something different!
I await the day he'll actually do something different. it'll surprise everyone. Most importantly, the opposition who have come to expect same style of play from us.
We make it so easy for some teams. Mourihno sure ain't quaking in his boots for next Sunday that's for sure!
Ramsey and Arteta the latest two out until after the international break.
Wilshere also carrying a knock.
Flamini is fast becoming a liability but it looks like he will be starting next week against Chelsea.
Could well be Diaby and Flamini against Chelsea. Which could actually be a blessing as it'll add strength, height, pace and a bit of "dirtiness" to our midfield which is exactly what we'll need. Would prefer that than seeing Arteta constantly getting overran.
Diaby against Chelsea could be good, especially with no Ramires. I doubt the midfield battle will decide the match. They have a genuine goal threat, we just have openings.
Injuries again deplete the side! Before October as well.
What about this hamstring injury Diego Costa currently has? Surely Wenger could have done something to prevent that? And the long lay off van persie had at united last year! Our medical staff have to shoulder the blame for that.
The truth of the matter is, that if you discount the permanently injured Diaby from our injury stats, we are more or less on a par with the rest of the clubs who finished in the top five of last season's injury list (Tottenham, Villa, Everton and Newcastle). In fact most clubs' injury stats are fairly similar. We just seem to suffer the misfortune of having at least one player who is out for long periods (like Walcott last season), and that screws up our stats as they are based on injury days. Without Walcott and Diaby we wouldn't have made the top six.
What about this hamstring injury Diego Costa currently has? Surely Wenger could have done something to prevent that? And the long lay off van persie had at united last year! Our medical staff have to shoulder the blame for that.
The truth of the matter is, that if you discount the permanently injured Diaby from our injury stats, we are more or less on a par with the rest of the clubs who finished in the top five of last season's injury list (Tottenham, Villa, Everton and Newcastle). In fact most clubs' injury stats are fairly similar. We just seem to suffer the misfortune of having at least one player who is out for long periods (like Walcott last season), and that screws up our stats as they are based on injury days. Without Walcott and Diaby we wouldn't have made the top six.
So all the teams that finished above us in the league finished below us in terms of injuries? Hmm, I wonder if there's a connection...
Also, what's the point of your first paragraph? Other teams' injuries don't have anything to do with the fact that Arsenal/Wenger should do more about them, even if this means splashing out on quality players to take inevitable injuries into account and strengthening the 1st team in general.
This is where Wenger should have done better. We're in dire need of defensive players and it pains me to see players like Blind who does a great job in defence and as DM going to ManU. Pretty much everyone said that defense needed more numbers and it's painfully clear that those who said that we were very short were very right.
Arsenal manager reveals club has ordered major overhaul of medical and training practices, including looking at the Emirates pitch, as injury list mounts again
Arsenal manager reveals club has ordered major overhaul of medical and training practices, including looking at the Emirates pitch, as injury list mounts again
I wonder if it is the pitch. Some serious injuries seem to be suffered on it. Ox's knee injury on the opening day of the season last year, Theo' cruciate ligament in the FA Cup NL derby, Debuchy's ankle against City and now Arteta's groin and Ramsey's hamstring after having a rest missing the Carling Cup game against the Saints come to mind.
For anyone in denial regarding our injury problems. Physioroom.com found the following last season.
Their research found that Arsenal were without first-team players last season for longer than any club at a combined 1,716 days.
By contrast, Chelsea were said to be without key players for 556 days, while champions Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool endured a similar injury toll of, respectively, 978 and 997 days lost.
Also found this quote from Wenger interesting
The outcome of the Champions League is much more predictable than it was 10 years ago. I don’t think that we are one of the four who will be favourites to win it but football is strange and not always predictable.
Surely judging by recent seasons in the CL, we have struggled to be in the top 8 let alone top 4 to win it.
We all know Wenger prefers snooker table like pitches with the short grass. It's all speculation of course but it could be there isn't enough give on the turf, like a shock absorber if you will to lessen the impact on the muscles and joints. That said, it would be the same for both teams. Impact injuries are one thing and there isn't much you can do about those but the isolated muscular and freakish injuries where there has been no contact need to be addressed.
Well, other teams only play on our pitch once or twice a season, while we play half our games on it, so more likely to suffer any injuries caused by the pitch. Also, it could be cumulative and add up over the season, which wouldn't be the case for the away teams. I'm not saying it's the pitch, but just pointing out that just because other teams also play on it, it doesn't mean that the impact on them would be the same as the impact on us.
Personally, I think the drive for us to be the fittest team in the last ten minutes might be having severe strenuous consequences on us that build up over time. Maybe the benefits of being the fittest team at the end of the game is a bit too costly in the long run for whatever benefit it gives us. All speculation, mind you. It's probably a mixture of many things. Certainly, something's up with our injuries that needs to be sorted out.
Comments
I await the day he'll actually do something different. it'll surprise everyone. Most importantly, the opposition who have come to expect same style of play from us.
We make it so easy for some teams. Mourihno sure ain't quaking in his boots for next Sunday that's for sure!
Not looking forward to it at all.
Or will our team surprise us? Maybe we'll get a draw or..*gulp*..win?
Anyway, Galatasaray first..
Wilshere also carrying a knock.
Flamini is fast becoming a liability but it looks like he will be starting next week against Chelsea.
Could well be Diaby and Flamini against Chelsea. Which could actually be a blessing as it'll add strength, height, pace and a bit of "dirtiness" to our midfield which is exactly what we'll need. Would prefer that than seeing Arteta constantly getting overran.
Injuries again deplete the side! Before October as well.
Having Shad Forsythe in the set up isn't helping a great deal either. Wonder if its to do with the training methods.
Ramsey had the week off so should have been fresh for the derby. Doesn't make sense and Wenger has no answers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29413133
Hopefully he comes back into form. Apart from Gala and Chavs he misses winnable games. We should be ok.
The truth of the matter is, that if you discount the permanently injured Diaby from our injury stats, we are more or less on a par with the rest of the clubs who finished in the top five of last season's injury list (Tottenham, Villa, Everton and Newcastle). In fact most clubs' injury stats are fairly similar. We just seem to suffer the misfortune of having at least one player who is out for long periods (like Walcott last season), and that screws up our stats as they are based on injury days. Without Walcott and Diaby we wouldn't have made the top six.
So all the teams that finished above us in the league finished below us in terms of injuries? Hmm, I wonder if there's a connection...
Also, what's the point of your first paragraph? Other teams' injuries don't have anything to do with the fact that Arsenal/Wenger should do more about them, even if this means splashing out on quality players to take inevitable injuries into account and strengthening the 1st team in general.
This is where Wenger should have done better. We're in dire need of defensive players and it pains me to see players like Blind who does a great job in defence and as DM going to ManU. Pretty much everyone said that defense needed more numbers and it's painfully clear that those who said that we were very short were very right.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11131884/Arsenal-manager-Arsene-Wenger-shocked-at-loss-of-Aaron-Ramsey-and-Mikel-Arteta-for-Galatasaray-game.html
Good article.
I wonder if it is the pitch. Some serious injuries seem to be suffered on it. Ox's knee injury on the opening day of the season last year, Theo' cruciate ligament in the FA Cup NL derby, Debuchy's ankle against City and now Arteta's groin and Ramsey's hamstring after having a rest missing the Carling Cup game against the Saints come to mind.
For anyone in denial regarding our injury problems. Physioroom.com found the following last season.
Also found this quote from Wenger interesting
Surely judging by recent seasons in the CL, we have struggled to be in the top 8 let alone top 4 to win it.
Well, other teams only play on our pitch once or twice a season, while we play half our games on it, so more likely to suffer any injuries caused by the pitch. Also, it could be cumulative and add up over the season, which wouldn't be the case for the away teams. I'm not saying it's the pitch, but just pointing out that just because other teams also play on it, it doesn't mean that the impact on them would be the same as the impact on us.
Personally, I think the drive for us to be the fittest team in the last ten minutes might be having severe strenuous consequences on us that build up over time. Maybe the benefits of being the fittest team at the end of the game is a bit too costly in the long run for whatever benefit it gives us. All speculation, mind you. It's probably a mixture of many things. Certainly, something's up with our injuries that needs to be sorted out.
01 Szczesny
21 Chambers
04 Mertesacker
06 Koscielny
03 Gibbs
20 Flamini
17 Sánchez
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
19 Cazorla
11 Özil
23 Welbeck
Santi in the Ramsey/Wilshere role and Alexis back in the side on the left. Ozil behind Welbeck.
Ozik needs to wake up.
Header was class, good strength and power to get away and a finish Thierry would be proud of.