Friday, February 4th, 2011 « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade

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Victory Through Harmony

Untold Injury Index – Gameweek 25

By Dale Higginbottom

Into February and the madness of the January window is behind us. The squads are now set for the final fourteen/fifteen league games of the season so this is where it all counts. There are no more opportunities to adjust your squad, this is all you have, this is what you have to deal with. January has been an odd month for league football. The news surrounding the transfer window and the distractions of FA cup ties, replays and Carling Cup games have taken the pressure off the league a little bit. The league results still need to keep coming and pressure will be greatly eased if we can manage the injuries and rotate well. Gameweek 25’s injuries were as follows.

Arsenal Vs Everton

Arsenal (5 injuries)

• Goalkeeper – Fabianski (3)
• Defence – Vermaelen (21)
• Midfield – Frimpong (23), Nasri (3), Denilson (4)
• Attack – No injuries reported

Additional issues: Sagna recovered from concussion to play the full 90 minutes. Song had to be replaced after the first half after picking up an injury.

Sunderland Vs Chelsea

Chelsea (3 injuries)

• Goalkeeper, attack – No injuries reported
• Defence – Alex (13)
• Midfield – Benayoun (19), Zhirkov (11)

Additional issues: Mikel was replaced after 77 minutes after picking up a knock.

Man Utd Vs Aston Villa

Man Utd (3 injuries)

• Goalkeeper, attack – No injuries reported.
• Defence – Rafael (2)
• Midfield – Valencia (20), Hargreaves (23)

Additional issues: Fletcher was forced off after 34 minutes following a clash of heads. Ferdinand and Carrick both returned to the starting eleven and played the whole game.

Blackburn Vs Tottenham

Tottenham (6 injuries)

• Goalkeeper, attack – No injuries reported.
• Defence – King (18), Kaboul (6)
• Midfield –Huddlestone (13) Bale (1), Modric (4), Pienaar (1)

Additional issues: Woodgate is back in the 25-man squad so now will appear on this list, He made the squad but did not play. Gallas and Palacios were doubts but played the whole game.

Birmingham Vs Man City

Man City (3 injuries)

• Goalkeeper, defence – No injuries reported
• Midfield – M. Johnson (25), A. Johnson (1)
• Attack – Balotelli (12)

Additional issues: Tevez and Richards were doubts before the game but started, Richards and De Jong then collided during the game and both had to be replaced.

Liverpool Vs Stoke

Liverpool (3 injuries)

• Goalkeeper, defence – No injuries reported
• Midfield – Jovanovic (4), Spearing (9)
• Attack – Carroll (1)

Additional issues: Carragher returned to the squad after a long spell out but did not play.

So, wins all round (except Citeh) and therefore not too much of a change at the top. Similarly, on the injury front, there’s very little change with Arsenal and Spurs topping the list again.

What can we say about injuries that hasn’t already been said? We’re hovering around the same level week-in, week-out (about five or six) which is great for planning. As long as injuries are spread amongst the positions we can manage and have proven this, even without some big names.

So, far we’re coping fairly well and the news today from Arsenal today has been mixed. Walcott is fine, Song back in a week, Nasri three and Vermaelen three to four. It is however one in and one out for goalkeepers. Almunia, is now back in the squad and fit to play but Fabianski has been ruled out for the rest of the season. With that new it means that we have been without at least one of our current three goalkeepers since week 7 and look how well we’ve coped so far.

United and Chelsea had fairly straight-forward wins and not too much on the injury front to report, nothing that we’re not already having to deal with at Arsenal.

Harry was again so desperate for reserves that (for the second time this season) he had two Goalkeepers on the bench. I guess that’s what happens when you get a few injuries and have no reserve team to draw from. I’m not entirely sure what happened to Alan Hutton though but it seems like he might have been dropped.

It was a tough day for Citeh. Not many injuries at the start of the day but when two players collide and both have to be replaced, it can really limit what you can do tactically and hinder your chances of closing out games and finishing off teams.

Liverpool added to their figures after buying the injured Carroll. You would’ve thought they might have learnt something from the Aquilani transfer but I guess, at least Carroll will fit right in with bar-brawling culture at the club.

We go into what looks like quite a nice run of games through to early April in a time when injuries have hit us hard in the past. Maybe this time it is our title-rivals that will be hit hardest at a time when some of them still have to face each other. If we can go unbeaten in the league until then, I think we’ll be well set for holding the top spot.

How Untold Arsenal uniquely revealed how bent the Premier League is

The preview: Refwatch Arsenal v Everton – it doesn’t look good

What happened: The most insane bit of refereeing ever seen

The commentary: The most insane bit of refereeing ever seen