Mixed Bag Injury Update

By: Martin | April 23rd, 2009

Well, injury news today, and there’s some good and some bad.

First, the good news. No one was hurt in Tuesday’s Liverpool match, so there are no new names to add. Manuel Almunia and Johan Djourou both participated in a full training session today, and could be back as soon as Sunday. Adebayor is also close to a return, and could be back in the squad for Boro as well.

Now, the bad news. Robin van Persie’s groin injury will keep him out for not only Sunday’s league match, but for the first leg of the Manchester United semifinal as well. Clichy is also definitely out for both games, but could be back for the second leg of the semifinal.

Overall, I think this is positive. Our backline has been dreadful lately, and as much as I think he’s got a bright future at the club, Fabianski just hasn’t been getting the job done the past couple games. But having Almunia play behind a line of (a healthy, rested) Sagna, Toure, Djourou, and Gibbs isn’t half bad, I don’t think. Especially if they can have a game against Boro, the lowest scoring team in the league, to get used to playing together as a unit. And obviously Adebayor is going to be needed against United on Wednesday.

Clichy will be missed, but Gibbs has been playing rather well lately, and any kind of spinal fracture isn’t something you want to take risks with. Robbie’s a much bigger loss, you’d have to say, but Wenger likes to play a single-striker formation in Champions League away fixtures anyway, so get ready to watch Diaby lackadaisically jogging around for 90 minutes.

In other news, the Arsenal youth team beat Manchester City 4-1 to seal a 6-2 aggregate win, and make it to the finals of the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2001. They’ll face Liverpool. Big ups to Wilshere and company for their success in the competition–between them and all the young players in the first team and reserve squads, the future looks to be pretty bright at the Grove.

More later in the week as we get closer to the Boro fixture.