So much for Arsene Wenger's hope that Arsenal could buck tradition and enjoy a healthy November. Instead, their traditional November curse has hit the club harder than ever with Kieran Gibbs becoming the latest Emirates player to join the Gunners' ever-lengthening injury list.
The left-back, poised to fill in for the crocked Gael Clichy, suffered a suspected broken metatarsal on England Under-21s duty on Tuesday night and could miss the next three months.
With Armand Traore also sidelined and Clichy at least a month away from a return, the youngster is the third Arsenal left-back to be injured this month. He is also the fourth Arsenal player to be injured during the current international break following the loss of Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey.
In total, 13 Arsenal players are now believed to be injured with Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott, Denilson, Lukasz Fabianski, Carlos Vela, Jack Wilshere and Johan Djourou joining the aforementioned Van Persie, Diaby, Ramsey, Traore, Gibbs and Clichy on the sidelines.
Of the group, only Traore is believed to have a chance of featuring at Sunderland this weekend, and Wenger's injury headache could yet worsen over the next 24 hours with William Gallas, Bacary Sagna and Andrei Arshavin all set to play in tonight's World Cup play-off qualifiers.
"Traditionally November has not been a good month for us," Wenger mused at the start of the month. "But I explain that by the fact we had more injuries - it is the first period when they kick in. Now we have the [international] break and all the players fly away so let's hope they all fly back in good shape."
Some hope.
Your Comments
lucasleivia
"the carling cup team is injured... so what?"
appugunner
"If arsenal get out of dis injury crisis still in the top 3 then we have a decent chance of winning the title.
As long as cesc n arshavin r fit..arsenal will be favorites against any side in the league.. "
dude_javis
"Just confirmed on Arsenal.com that Gibbs only sustained severe bruising, his absence will be a short one...some good news."
wefromtheunderg
"Lol Wenger must've train'em with a baseball bat. Hope that we can keep scoring with Eduardo more then we let in now that our first 2 choices left backs are missin"
iamgazza
"The FA might want to think about a helthy diet and nutrition plan in their curriculum for our footballers because these injuries are apalling. I remember cfc feeding their players well 2 years ago. Does anybody care about the health of our fotballers?"
ohno
"oi Scuzzers this story is about Arsenal your are where you are in the table because u have been poor this season and cant put two games togther!! now get lost abd let us goons talk about how Big Phil S could be the best left back in the world given half the chance...................."
weepyking
"robbo32........ I hear ya barking. But Agger is not a 1st choice player I was told on here by many ;iverpool fans. Arielo as you put it is away is he not? Dossena is nowhere near the 1st 11 and benayoun was not injured when Torred and Gerard were, neither was Skrtel for the majority of it. So chill out man and come back with a good argument nest time."
indian_gooner
"Drunkenmaster what are you talking about? Get out and stop supporting Arsenal if you are critical about Wenger all the time.RVP was always the first player to be subbed after 65 minutes in almost every game"
rufus3000
"liverpool fans are just as crap as other big 4 fans. they just sing a stupid song before and after matches."
Aslett
"To be fair though, if you look at most of those 1st team injuries for Liverpool it may explain why the papers aren't talking about them . . . . they aren't exactly players that people really care about (No offence, but Dossena says it all) Also the reason why injuries may not be a huge problem for Arsenal compared to Liverpool is simple . . . because there are and always have been top quality players to replace regular 1st team players, whereas Liverpool for the first time in their history are reliant on two players and thats it(Torres/Gerrad). I like Liverpool, and it's not nice to see them crumble, even Reina has had a lack luster start to the season.
To be fair we (Arsenal) have got a lot of reasons and excuses for this sudden bout of injuries, but there is one that frustrates and pleases me at the same time. I have to be the biggest critic of Niklas Bendtner, and the fact that he crashed his car (after a 20 minute test and no manouvres because his examiner was talking to him non stop about football - which I've been told by his instructor) was the cause of his 1st and possibly his second injury . . . but I'm pleased cause it means I don't have to see him in an Arsenal shirt on the pitch."
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