Injury list improves, Wenger expresses relief
Written by Jonathan Chong on Friday, November 20, 2009
Manager Arsène Wenger has expressed his relief at the improvement in the club's injury list. Denilson, Lukasz Fabianski, Carlos Vela and Armand Traore have all recovered from their respective injuries.
Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott are also close to returning from injury, and might even feature in the Champions League match against Standard Liege.
With new long-term injuries to Robin van Persie and Kieran Gibbs, the return of crucial players is a welcome boost for Wenger.
The 60-year-old boss said: "We knew that when Robin came out with this injury, that he would be out for a long time but frankly I feared it would be more because the first news was very, very bad. So it was a relief that he would be out for six weeks.
"Of course it is a disappointment and something we did not want but I feel we have enough strength to compensate for his absence for a while. It will also allow him to be fresh for when he comes back.
"[As for Kieran], our medical staff called me saying he was in hospital in Lithuania with a suspected broken metatarsal. Later on it was much better news. He will still be out for Sunderland but maybe we could have him back for Standard Liege on Tuesday.
"We knew that when Robin came out with this injury, that he would be out for a long time," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online. "But frankly I feared it would be more because the first news was very, very bad. So it was a relief that he would be out for six weeks.
"Of course it is a disappointment and something we did not want but I feel we have enough strength to compensate for his absence for a while. It will also allow him to be fresh for when he comes back.
"[As for Kieran], our medical staff called me saying he was in hospital in Lithuania with a suspected broken metatarsal. Later on it was much better news. He will still be out for Sunderland but maybe we could have him back for Standard Liege on Tuesday."
The club's injury list now reads as follows:
Kieran Gibbs (suspected broken metatarsal)
Robin van Persie (partially-fractured ankle)
Gaël Clichy (back)
Jack Wilshere (ankle / foot)
Theo Walcott (MCL knee ligament)
Tomas Rosicky (knee)
Nicklas Bendtner (inguinal hernia)
Abou Diaby (ankle / foot)
Johan Djourou (knee)
Hopefully these players will return in time for the crucial Christmas and New Year periods.
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