Arsenal: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Suspension Already Answered For

Arsenal were blessed with the news that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be missing in the upcoming clash, but not wanting to be undone, Alexis may miss too.

Arsenal aren’t in a crisis. There is nothing to hit the panic button about. They are into the round of 16, they are two points off a title chase that no one even thought they’d be in and they’ve been doing it in a variety of ways.

Related: Wenger’s Best Ever Starting XI

The fact that they drew with Tottenham sucks, but mostly because we know that this Gunner’s squad is better than that. It was three points that could have taken us to the top of the table. Instead, we are in fourth.

As such, the match coming up after international break has added implications. Manchester United with three points needed? Bring it on.

Even with the match over a week away, there is already news raining in pertaining to who will take the pitch.

The first bit of big news was Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s suspension. The Swedish behemoth has not had an easy go of life in England thus far. After anointing himself the ‘god of Manchester’, Zlatan has gone on to have a very hit and miss campaign.

The big man scored four in his first four games before taking a nose dive, scoring just one in his next six. He added two in his latest match against Swansea, but he won’t be scoring any against Arsenal.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

It was good news until the Gunners were hit with the news that Alexis may miss the match too. Alexis suffered a calf injury while training with the Chileans on international duty and the injury has his participation in the crucial match largely up for question.

So essentially, what we have here is a tit-for-tat. Both of our leading scorers are out and it is up to the ingenuity of the two competing clubs to find solutions.

Olivier Giroud will be Arsenal’s solution if need be, and he will have a chance to show United what a real, reliable target man up front looks like. I was selfishly hoping for him to clash with Zlatan, but forcing the Swede to watch him is perfectly good too.

United have a tougher acclimation to make, but they will likely turn to young Marcus Rashford, who poached some crucial goals against the Gunners last year.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

Still, advantage Arsenal, even with Zlatan’s suspension already being evened out.