Abou Diaby has become an untimely injury concern for Arsene Wenger as his national team manager revealed he is struggling in a fitness race for Frances game against Belarus with a muscular problem. The injury prone midfielder has had an outstanding start to the season with The Gunners and continued that form for Les Bleus with a match winning performance against Finland last Friday. Deschamps says the player will not be risked if there is any doubt over the injuries severity, which will be news to Wengers ears considering Diaby’s injury record and current importance to the team.
Olivier Giroud has admitted he has ‘snatched’ at chances this season due to a lack of confidence and surprise at playing in the Premier League. He claims it has always been his dream to play in England, looing up to stars such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires whilst growing up and now he is here he often finds it hard to believe, causing him to doubt his ability. He claims such an effect is temporary and as soon as he overcomes it that the goals will flow. He also took time to praise the knowledgeable and intelligent fans at The Emirates who have continued to support him despite his fruitless efforts in front of goal.
Another fitness concern has hit Arsenal however as it has emerged Theo Walcott has contracted a violent vomiting bug. The England winger had to pull out of the international squad ahead of Tuesday’s game against Ukraine and Arsenal will assess his fitness and potential contagious likelihood before reintroducing him to the Arsenal first team.
Arsenal have been named as one of many clubs being linked with the signing of Everton’s Belgian international midfielder Maraoune Fellaini after he revealed his desire to leave the club by the end of the season. The £15 million pound signing from Standard Liege is believed to crave Champions League football and unless Everton provide it this season he will seek a move elsewhere. Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have all been linked with his signature after an impressive 12 months.
In the wake of Andre Santos’s recent brush with the law for automobile offences Arsenal may be counting their lucky stars they did not win the race for highly talented French teenager M’Baye Niang after a similar situation occurred in Italy. Niang, who eventually chose AC Milan was arrested after driving without a license in the Italian city and then charged with giving false information after claiming he was somebody else – a teammate in the form of Bakaye Traore.
What do you make of everything happening at Arsenal FC on the 10th September 2012?
image: © nicksarebi
Mathew Nash
@hitcmathewnashGoogle+more stories from Mathew Nash
I’m Mathew Nash a 23 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.
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