New Season: New Injury Woes For Arsenal

With another season about to kick off, so it would seem it's business as usual for Arsenal as we head into our first "must-win" game of the season; The Champions League qualifier against Steve McClaren's FC Twente.   

However, instead of relishing what should be a stroll in the park for The Gunners, I find myself nervous at the thought of an unthinkable yet not entirely unrealistic embarrassment at the hands of McClaren's men, by in large to Arsenal's ever growing injury list.  

My reasons to worry? Well, without even a ball being kicked in competitive play, at the time of writing we are seven, yes SEVEN players short leading up to this match including: Fabregas, Diaby, Nasri, Senderos and possibly Kolo Toure.

Add this to the long-term injury woes of Eduardo and Rosicky and you really have to start questioning just what the hell is going on behind the scenes at AFC. 

There doesn't seem to be a month that goes by without one of our key players picking up some thigh or ankle injury during training sessions. Furthermore it's also evident that due to the lack of world class depth in the squad, coupled with the usual fixture congestion, many of these players are being rushed back into first team action without having the chance to fully recuperate or in some cases fully re-heal.

Unfortunately this was Arsenal's undoing last season and the reason we watched the title slip from our grasp and into the mitts of The Mancs. We're currently sans seven players (eight if you include Song, currently on internation duty at the Olympics) prior to the start of the season and it would appear lessons have not been learnt. 

Of course, we all need to get behind the boys and hope all goes according to plan. One thing Arsenal have been doing well for years is punching above their weight. In Arsene we trust but I sometimes wonder where the line between Wenger's faith in his young players begins and naivety at failing to strengthen the squad with proven deputies begins?

I've no doubt we'll be there or there abouts this season and I'm sure we'll see another new player don the red and white (and the fantastic new yellow and blue away) shirt before the transfer window closes but right now a part of me is wishing Wenger would utilize his brilliant network of scouts to bring in a world class physio. 

This would surely be one of our best signings in years!

In short, if our players can go a whole season relatively injury free, then I think we can start getting excited about the prospect of silverware come May 2009. 

"Victoria Concordia Crescit."

Rob Thomas