So what have we got by way of a team for tonight? Football Lineups gives us a line up of…
Raya
White Timber Hincape Calafiori
Odegaard Zubemendi Rice
Saka Merino Eze
Andm.football comes up with the same.
That was obviously published before Rice was taken ill, and also suggests that Calafiori doesn’t have to miss this match because of his cards. It also does not include Martinelli who is said to have a calf issue, but may be used as a substitute. Or as others are saying, maybe is ok.
Six Sports who I don’t think we have quoted before with a line up come up with
Raya
White Calafioli Timber Lewis-Skelly
Rice Zubimendi Eze
Saka Gyökores Martinelli
They also seem to have published before the news about Rice was released.
Now, the fact is that this appears to be approaching mid-December and we have a whole range of players unavailable. Which means one could say that we are getting the injuries out of the way early, or else that the club is being targeted by dirty players and unprotected by referees.
But either way we do have four spaces in the 25 man squad, so if there is any money in the bank, we could go out and buy another couple of players in January as extra cover. And we don’t have to worry about nationality because we have enough home growners to keep Uefa happy.
And anyway, maybe they are not all injured but are simply hiding in the cupboard so that they can give the opposition a surprise as they emerge.
But the question does remain – why is it always a question of injuries with Arsenal? Last season, most certainly Arsenal did get more injuries than any other club in the Premier League, but are we heading this way again? And if so why? The blame used to be squarely put on the shoulders of Wenger and his antiquated training methods. Will the journalists put the same blame on Arteta? Or will they, just this once, admit that they don’t have a clue?
Assuming Arsenal do put a team out, and don’t just give the opposition a bye, maybe we’ll find out. Maybe it is all a hoax.