Arsene Wenger Only Mistake Lies In Mismanaging Arsenal Injuries

Arsenal have suffered a lot of injuries in the past few weeks, and if the Gunners aren’t careful, it could cost them their season.

It’s been a tough month for Arsene Wenger. Arsenal have been in poor form, played well below themselves and have lost half their players to the injury bug.

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It was all going so well for the Gunners. They’d beaten Bayern Munich 2-0, were challenging for the top of the Premier League, and looking like the best team in the process. They were even progressing in the league cup. In the space of a few short weeks, Arsenal now find themselves in a tight predicament to qualify from the group in the Champions League. They’re out of the league cup and falling off the pace in the league, having gained only one point from the last two games.

However, while Arsenal’s lack of form is slightly concerning, it is not unusual, even for the best of teams, to dip in and out of good and bad form throughout the year. The performances, while not encouraging, are not the main issue here. The main issue is by far and away the countless injuries that this squad has suffered, and it has the potential to ruin Arsenal’s season.

Arsenal currently have 10 players out with some form of injury, as well as Bellerin, Ramsey and Oxlade-Chamberlain who have just returned from injury and are still settling in. These players include Danny Welbeck (knee), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (knee), Kieran Gibbs (calf), Theo Walcott (calf), Francis Coquelin (knee) and Mikel Arteta (calf). In addition, Arsenal saw Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny all hobble off in Sunday’s draw to Norwich.

Not only is this an extensive injury list, but it includes some key players. Five or six players could stake a claim to being regular, first team players. Take half of the starting XI out of any team and they will struggle, no matter how much money was spent in the summer. Some have wrongly argued that Arsenal’s squad is too thin, and while I was pining for an new defensive midfielder earlier in the season, it is not the lack of numbers that have cost Arsenal.

People are wrong to criticize Wenger for not splashing the cash and bringing in bodies for the sake of it. Wenger will always be careful with his money. But, he is exactly right to be. Arsenal have a top quality squad, both in terms of quality and depth. Having said that, where Wenger can be criticized is in his handling of injured players.

Alexis Sanchez has looked tired all season. Everyone could see that and everyone was wanting Wenger to give him a rest. He didn’t. Lo and behold, Sanchez pushed himself too far and injured his hamstring. It is these avoidable injuries that Wenger seems to be ignorantly blind to. Why he takes less care of his players, especially when they return from injury (see Jack Wilshere), I will never know, but it is certainly a weakness of his.

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As the tweet above shows, Arsenal have struggled in the month of November for years. This is due to the perennial injury problems that the team faces. Around late October, as again this year, players begin to break down, gradually. Then November comes and Wenger has a very thin squad to work with. It happens every single season and has happened yet again this year. If Arsenal aren’t careful, November could yet again ruin the rest of the season. The injury bug has struck again, and the Gunners will need to get well soon.