Swiss FA claim Johan Djourou could be fit within a fortnight

zocoss SG

Point of impact: Bacary Sagna (left) collides with team-mate Johan Djourou

Arsene Wenger was left counting the emotional and physical cost of Saturday’s defeat as defender Johan Djourou was ruled out for the season with a dislocated shoulder.

Arsenal crashed out of their third cup competition in 13 days at Old Trafford and Wenger’s mood was worsened by the sight of Djourou being given oxygen as he was carried off on a stretcher.

He was caught accidentally by his own team-mate Bacary Sagna in a goalmouth scramble 10 minutes from the end of the game and fell awkwardly on to his shoulder.

Wenger said: ‘We have lost Djourou now for the rest of the season and it will be difficult for us. It is a dislocated shoulder.’

Arsenal’s season is unravelling fast after being talked about as contenders for a unique Quadruple.

Since then, they have been beaten by Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final and were knocked out of the Champions League at Barcelona. They still have the Premier League title to chase, currently lying second to Manchester United, and Wenger said: ‘I believe that we can do it but it’s a good test for us now to show that we can regroup.

Agony: Johan Djourou is stretchered off at Old Trafford

‘I am very disappointed that we lost three big challenges in a very strange way. One was in the last minute to a goal that came from nowhere [Carling Cup], one was under strange circumstances in Barcelona and now this. We weren’t outplayed but we were punished by a team that was more clinical than us.’

Wenger’s problems are exaggerated by the fact his most experienced central defender, Thomas Vermaelen, is also currently out injured.

One better piece of news for Arsenal was the long-awaited return of midfielder Aaron Ramsey. He came on as a substitute at Old Trafford yesterday for his first Arsenal appearance since an horrific broken leg at Stoke City 13 months ago.

Rock^Star SG

It happens man. I fell the same way last week and had a muscle tear on my right shoulder. Thought I dislocated the shoulder. Put some chinese ointment and recovered within 3 days

zocoss SG

I don't think this Djourou's one will heal in 3 days...

Gunners have problems on their hands with Vermaelen still out, they will have to depend on Squillaci in the meantime...

Rock^Star SG

I wanna see if the gunners capitulate in the title race after all these debacles....and prove everyone right again.

Y_Shun SG

Squillaci....

Now they really have to pray hard Almunia does not get injuried.

Y_Shun SG

Btw Arshavin seems to be rubbish this season....

Rock^Star SG

Maybe just my gut feel.....arshavin seems to have some motivation issues this season. He used to be such a livewire; his impact on games has reduced tremendously.

zocoss SG

Maybe he old liao... Thats the easiest way to explain it...

People don't realize, a lot of wingers lose it by the time the reach or about to reach 30... Duff, Kewell are 2 famous ones... I recalled they were once mentioned as young targets to replace a coming to 30 Giggs...

They were like 25 then... But before they reach 30, they were finished from the very top level... While Giggs is still there... Not everyone can play well beyond their 30's.

Arshavin is 29 and will be 30 yrs old in 2 months time...

zocoss SG

Arsenal boost as Swiss FA claim Johan Djourou could be fit within a fortnight

Arsenal have been handed an unexpected boost by the announcement from the Swiss FA that defender Johan Djourou may yet be fit enough to play a part in the Gunners title charge.

The centre-back, who has been outstanding for the Gunners this term, was ruled out for the season on Saturday with a dislocated shoulder picked up during Arsenal’s demoralising FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Immediately after the game manager Arsene Wenger said there was no chance the 24-year-old would play any part in the final 10 games of the campaign.

However in a release on their website, the Swiss FA have revealed every effort is being made to get Djourou fit for his country’s key Euro 2012 clash against Bulgaria on March 26.

The release said: ‘The shoulder injury to Johan Djourou is less serious than feared on Saturday and announced by the coach of his club.

‘The Arsenal defender and member of the Switzerland national team was submitted to thorough medical examinations on Monday. At the end of a long exhausting day, Johan Djourou had new hope that…. his season is not over yet.’

The Swiss FA report that Djourou suffered no fractures or injury to the bones.

The Gunners star fell awkwardly in a collision with team-mate Bacary Sagna in the latter stages of the match as Arsenal crashed out of their third cup competition in the space of two weeks.

On Sunday Djourou seemed to suggest that he was making good progress. Using the social networking site Twitter, he wrote: ‘Many thanks for all your wishes. I am feeling today a little bit better,’ followed by, ‘I have to wait and see how my shoulder is progressing. I will keep you updated.’

The player missed virtually the entire 2009/10 campaign following knee surgery but has returned to be Arsenal’s most consistent performer in a back four beset by problems.

Thomas Vermaelen has missed the majority of the campaign with a long-standing achilles problem, while new signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci have failed to justify their place in the team on more than one occasion.