Well that’s that, the International break is over
Historically the International break has been dreaded by fans of most clubs, but none more so than us Gooners. I genuinely can’t remember the number of players we have lost during these breaks particularly those taking place in the first part of the season. The number of games lost over the past couple of years from key players such as Saka, Odegaard, Havertz, Jesus, Martinelli, Saliba and Gabriel (to name but a few) must run into three figures. Maybe other clubs have suffered more, but it doesn’t feel like it.
I remain a firm, committed fan of the England national team at all levels and fully embrace the mad fandom that goes with a summer tournament every other year. I’m also of a certain vintage that remembers World Cups in 1974, 1978 and 1994 plus Euro ’84 and ’08 from which England were noticeably absent. Those summers were truly awful and so I do understand the importance of the recent qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. However if I’m honest with myself I pay much less attention to the results of England or any other country than I do to reports of injuries incurred by our players away on International duty. My relief last night as first Noni and then Deccers were replaced was palpable and I was sadly happy that neither Myles nor Ebe featured in Belgrade.
So it was with a huge amount trepidation that I have studied the internet over the past week. But for the first time in a long time, possibly ever, this time we appear to have got away with it. I should add the caveat that I’m writing this at around 0800 on the Wednesday morning straight after the end of the latest break, but having scoured reports from some of the furthest outposts of European football and beyond, I actually cannot find a single player of ours that has picked up an injury, or even a knock for that matter.
Things may change when everyone reports back to London Colney, but at the moment we face Forest with no new injuries. Starboy and Wilo are already out, but with 20 fit outfield players to choose from I expect Mikel to pick a matchday squad that will be too much for Forest on Saturday lunchtime and we will ruin Big Ange’s return to the Premier League.
Images courtesy of Reuters/Action Images