The Arsenal Injury Jinx Continues

So Samir Nasri fractured a fibula in training this morning...

A clumsy tackle from the returning Senderos, maybe? Or was Rosicky trying to facilitate his restoration to the first team?

Of course, it was probably just an innocuous incident, but Arsene Wenger must be wondering if one of his rival managers has been sticking pins in Arsenal voodoo dolls.

So here's a recap on some recent MAJOR injuries suffered by Arsenal players.

Tomas Rosicky

Injury details: Mysterious muscle tear, several operations, months of rehab.

Time missed: January 2008-May 2009

One in, one out. Wenger won't panic buy in the wake of Nasri's misfortune, because, he'll argue, Tomas Rosicky is back. At bloody last.

The Czech international has just returned, in the friendly against Barnet last weekend. Question marks inevitably remain over his fitness, and confidence, but if he recaptures his best form, he'll be a certain starter in the Gunners best XI.

Eduardo Da Silva

Injury details: broken fibula and dislocated ankle

Time missed: February 2008-February 2009

Eduardo returned to first team action a week short of a year following the horrific break sustained at St Andrews—and scored after 20 mins. He added a penalty in that match against Cardiff, before volleying a sensational strike against Burnley.

But all those goals came in the FA Cup and the Croation international missed a Champions League penalty in the shootout at Roma.

Eduardo has still to play a Premier League game after a series of niggling setbacks. So Wenger will consider Eduardo a replacement for Adebayor in many ways—but again doubts will linger until a run in the team without any setbacks.

Robin Van Persie

Injuries: fractured fifth metatarsal, left foot; knee injury

Time missed: January 2007-May 2007, and October 2007-December 2007

Last season was a welcome relief for RVP. Although he still suffered his fair share of minor hamstring and groin problems, he started 38 matches and was voted Arsenal.com player of the season.

It was a different story in 2006-07 and 2007-08, when he started 25 and 20 games respectively, plus six and three substitute appearances. Hopefully, Robin will continue to stay away from the treatment table next season.

Cesc Fabregas

Injury details: damaged anterior knee ligaments

Time missed: December 2008-April 2009

Within weeks of being named club captain, Cesc suffered his first major injury in a full-blooded tackle with fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso. Without him, creativity was at a premium. A glaring illustration of this came via four consecutive goal-less draws in January-February.

When Cesc returned he immediately claimed three assists in two matches, but his goals tally of three came nowhere near his 13-strike haul the previous season. Arsenal can't afford a similar period of separation from their captain this season—and fingers crossed, interest from Barca and Real has cooled.

Abou Diaby

Injury details: broken and dislocated ankle; countless minor injuries

Time missed: May 2006-February 2007

After a bright start, Diaby's Arsenal career was soured by Dan Smith's shocking two-footed challenge at Sunderland. This was of course, ages ago, but Diaby has since kept Arsenal physios in employment with numerous knee, groin and hamstring injuries. Glimpses of the ungainly Frenchman's brilliance have yet to satisfy the Arsenal faithful.

Theo Walcott

Injury details: dislocated shoulder

Time missed: November 2008-March 2009

In a match that revealed suspected and fundamental flaws in Arsenal's game, Stoke beat the Gunners 2-1, Adebayor was felled by a mis-timed (to be generous) tackle, and Theo's right shoulder was dislodge—not for the first time—after an ugly fall.

Perhaps with that game in mind, Theo has promised to learn to do the "dirty work" because "it's not all about pretty football". With a World Cup place to secure, Theo is on a mission this season.

Who's next?

Sacre bleu. If there are any I've missed, please send me a cyberspace slap and add to the list.

Of course, Thierry Henry was out for most of his final days at the club; Adebayor missed a chunk of last season; Gallas and Toure are never shy of an injury or two; Almunia isn't exactly bulletproof; Gael Clichy missed a couple of months with a back injury; and I can't even remember when Gilberto had all those spinal problems.

Arsenal aren't the only club to feel jinxed—Newcastle springs to mind—but Wenger must be praying that the recession has halted production of any Andrei Arshavin voodoo dolls.