The international break appears to have taken a real
toll on Arsenal with Arsene Wenger revealing that Robin van Persie,
Eduardo, Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby are all doubtful for Tuesday’s
Champions League quarter final, first leg tie against
Villarreal.
The quartet will all miss Saturday’s Premier League game against
Manchester City, with Van Persie injuring his groin with Holland,
Eduardo picking up a groin problem on duty with Croatia and Diaby
(thigh) and Nasri (flu) both laid low after joining up with
France.
Although key trio Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo
Walcott will all return to Wenger’s squad in time for the City
game, the latest injury news is a setback for Wenger as he seeks to
hold onto fourth place and progress in Europe.
Creative midfielder Nasri could return in time for Tuesday’s
first leg in Spain but the three other injured players are more of
a concern.
“We lost a few players during the international break,
especially Eduardo, Van Persie and Diaby,” said Wenger. “They will
all be out for tomorrow’s game.
“Nasri came back with the flu, he is in bed and is not available
for the game. He has a small chance of feeling better for Sunday,
so maybe he should be available for the Tuesday game.
“Van Persie, Diaby and Eduardo we believe have a little, little,
little chance but they could all be short for Tuesday.”
Wenger has long been a critic of international football – once
famously likening national coaches to joyriders – but expects the
busy calendar to be slightly tweaked at the behest of his club
colleagues.
“There is not a lot of room [in the fixture list],” said Wenger.
“But the one thing we ask for many times is to play the second game
on Tuesday because the players all looked to be bored from Saturday
to Wednesday.
“It would give a fair amount of recovery time between Tuesday
and Saturday and that would be much better.
“I believe the principle has been accepted many times but for
this qualifier they had not enough time to manage to do it. Maybe
for the next time there is a qualifier it will be done.”
Meanwhile, Wenger also neglected to give an update on the
contractual situation of Van Persie who currently in talks over an
extended deal at Emirates Stadium.
“I think when he has signed the contract we will tell you, don’t
worry. There is no news whether he is close or not close, you
either sign or don’t sign, the rest is just speculation.”