Emirates Turns into a Field Hospital

By: Martin | April 9th, 2009

It’s as bad, if not worse, than originally thought. Here’s the most up-to-date injury news:

Gallas–out for season (knee)
Almunia–out 3 weeks (ankle)
Clichy–out 2 weeks (back)
van Persie–possibly fit for Saturday (groin)
Eduardo–possibly fit for Saturday (groin)
Rosicky–”not close to coming back” (hamstring)

That is ummm….not good. In case you needed reminding, Saturday marks the beginning of a brutal stretch of 4 games in 11 days–away to Wigan, home to Villareal, Chelsea at Wembley (FA Cup), and Liverpool at Anfield. The importance of these games cannot be overstated–a good run will see us in the CL semis, the FA Cup finals, and firmly in fourth place in the table with a shot at third. A bad run will leave us without a trophy for the 4th consecutive season and in a dogfight to hold off Villa and/or Everton for next year’s final Champions League spot.

As I said yesterday, I like our substitutes that will be pressed into action (Djourou, Fabianski, and Gibbs), and I’m optimistic that they will hold the fort until we return to health. But with 4 games in 11 days, fatigue is going to be a real issue for our defenders, and the only other healthy defender we have is Silvestre. I hate to say it, but we’re only an injury or two away from a nightmare scenario of going into a big match having to play an out-of-position Alex Song at centre back or Eboue at fullback, or even calling up someone from the reserves to play. Ugh.

As for our strikers, it’s good news that van Persie and Eduardo are nearing health again. Groin injuries are notoriously difficult to treat and easy to reaggravate, so, given that Adebayor, Bendtner, Vela, and Arshavin are healthy, I say let van Persie and Eduardo sit out the Wigan game, or at most use them as late subs if needed. Maybe it’s arrogant and I’m overlooking Wigan a little bit, but we really will need them both against Villareal, Chelsea, and/or Liverpool, which are all much more important games.

All this is concerning, to say the least. But despite all the ups and downs, this team has definitely shown itself to be a resilient group of young men this season that never gives up and can never be counted out. Here’s hoping the lads will get through this and do us proud. Wigan preview coming tomorrow.