After a disastrous result at Emirates last weekend, Arsenal are now preparing themselves for a match that could effect the club’s future in many ways. Arsenal travel to Fenerbahce in midweek and the second leg will be played six days later at Emirates. In between, they have to face Fulham away in the league too. But their squad is too thin at the moment to handle this hectic schedule. Latest injury to Ox, Sagna and Gibbs added more selection headaches to Wenger.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be out till February with his Knee injury. Sagna’s and Kieran Gibbs’s injuries are not as serious as Ox’s but still they will miss the trip to Turkey. Rosicky is also out for the game while Ramsey and Wilshere are expected to play even though they are not fully fit. Youngster Yennaris will replace Sagna and Jenkinson in for Gibbs.
Adding to their misery, latest reports states that Koscielny and Cazorla are also suspended for the game for their serious of yellow cards in last year’s champions league. We are not sure about this news anyway. In the premier league, only red cards carry forward to the next season. So, lets look at two different lineups considering both the possibilities,
Potential lineup 1: (with Kos and Cazorla)
Szczesny
Yennaris Mertesacker (c) Koscielny Jenkinson
Wilshere Ramsey
Cazorla
Walcott Podolski
Giroud
Potential lineup 2: (without Kos and Cazorla)
Szczesny
Yennaris Mertesacker (c) Jenkinson Podolski
Frimpong Ramsey
Wilshere
Walcott Gnabry
Giroud
The second lineup shows how critical the situation is for Gunners at the moment. Podolski will be forced to play as a left back (he has some experience in that role for Germany) and Gnabry will take Poldolski’s spot at the left wing.
Will Wenger sign one or two players before the second leg at least? Arsenal are recently linked with a move for German defensive midfielder Lars Bender.
Watch this report from Skysports:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lp7cHr4xlSs
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