Arsenal Injury Update: Chamberlain, Gibbs & More….

By Gooner Mac Published: 8th November 2012

Arsenal welcome Fulham to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon and boss Arsene Wenger has given an injury update ahead of the game.

Wenger has provided the latest news on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Wojciech Szczesny and Kieran Gibbs who are all struggling with injury ahead of the weekend’s action.

Chamberlain has been out for three weeks with a hip injury and will face a late fitness test to see if he can take part against Fulham. Midfielder Ramsey missed the midweek draw at Schalke with a groin strain and will also face a late test.

Szczesny has not played since the 6-1 win over Southampton on September the 15th and Arsene has revealed the Pole is in line to play for the under-21′s on Friday and has a chance of being part of the squad for Saturday.

However, the bad news is Kieran Gibbs remains out and joins Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky and Gervinho on the sidelines. Here is what the boss told Arsenal.com:

on fitness tests…

From the other night we have no big problem. We have to test Oxlade-Chamberlain to see if he can be in the squad, we have a test as well with Aaron Ramsey to see if he can be in the squad.

on Wojciech Szczesny…

Maybe Wojciech has a little chance to be in the squad because he will play tomorrow [Friday] with the under-21s. If he gets through I might take him in the squad.

on other absentees…

Gervinho is out, Diaby out, Rosicky out, Gibbs as well is not back.

So with Gibbs still out, Wenger has a decision to make at left back. Andre Santos was rightly dropped for the Schalke game on Tuesday after a string of below-par performances. Thomas Vermaelen was moved out to fill in and while proved to be a better option that Santos, he was still far from convincing.

It will also be important to get Chamberlain back in the squad, so hopefully he’s passed fit. There was a distinct lack of attacking threat on the bench on Tuesday night so it will be good to get the Oxe back to give the boss more options.

Who would you play at left back? Get involved in the comments section.

Mike says:

Why not give Yennaris or Coquelin a shot on the flank? I remember both had a few games at fullback last season and seemed to be relatively solid. It can’t be worse than santos, both are faster and better passers of the ball than andre.

I’m dissapointed at santos’ drop oft this year, he seemed a confident and able player last year. The comeback win against chelsea stands out in my memory. But LB is a spot we definitely need some quality depth. Hell, CB and RB as well- with Jenkinson hurt what happens if Bac goes down at the weekend? And i think Kosceliny has scored more goals for opposing teams than for his own since coming aboard. He’s got potential but his consistency has got to improve and for god’s sake please stop with all the own goals before fifa launches a match fixing investigation…

10:30 pm on November 8, 2012

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- Goonerboyo says:
  
  Totally agree. Can only be an improvement. Santos unworthy of any place following shirt scandal , poor performance and clearly overweight.
  
  10:54 pm on November 8, 2012
  
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yommy says:

I will prefare D boss plays sagna @ left back & replace sagna with jenkinson @ right back for D game or better still use vermealen @ left back…..Not santos plsss

10:32 pm on November 8, 2012

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docbrody says:

Well I know everyone will disagree, but I’d play Santos at left back. Lets face it, Arsenal’s problems are bigger than Santos. In fact, you really can’t say he was to blame for the 2 goals Untide scored. We’ve all seen him play much better. Frankly I’m hopeful he will perform better now that he’s gotten a few games under his belt. If I had to pick players to shed in January, Santos might be on the list provided we can find a suitable replacement, but he wouldnt be top if the list. I’d rather see Chamkh, Bendtner, Arshavin, Squilichi and a few others get taken off the wage bill and used to finance moves for some higher quaility midfielders ir forwards.

10:36 pm on November 8, 2012

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- Goonerboyo says:
  
  You forgot Djourou. And yes Santos out too!
  
  10:56 pm on November 8, 2012
  
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Luka emmanuel says:

Let do with yenaries or coqorln at that left or we should continues using vaminator while waitin 4 gibbson 2 comeback 4rom injury. Wsh them the best.

11:18 pm on November 8, 2012

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- Oladele says:
  
  You lack spelling drills bro get a spell checker phone.
  
  12:56 am on November 9, 2012
  
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Pablodavies says:

Sagna @ left-full bck, and Jekinson on right- bck…..best of luck @ the wkend.

11:24 pm on November 8, 2012

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agada bobchris says:

lets give santos a chance since is still there n use varmalin in cm were him can play batter leave andra his good

11:55 pm on November 8, 2012

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gabriel says:

I would like to see Ramsy out of arsenal squad. Girlod can’t control ball with his legs why? Infact arsenal has a serious problem.

7:25 am on November 9, 2012

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gooner wa ukweli says:

Andre is not an huge the problem is we haven’t a scoring machine professor Wenger pls make theo as our goals machine we’ll stay happy

7:48 am on November 9, 2012

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Charlie says:

Can’t believe people are saying to play Santos. Yes he was to blame for Uniteds’ first goal, Valencia had time to tie his laces before making his cross if he wanted to. How can the Left Back not be responsible for that ? United attacked almost solely down Arsenals’ left because Santos was the weak link and he is not good enough for the Premiership.

8:23 am on November 9, 2012

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Solomon alexander says:

I think wenger should do away with santos in january.

10:09 am on November 9, 2012

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Oboka craig says:

I hate de way Santos defends he easily allows de ball btwn his leg n dat big body belongs to rugby not football let him go we appreciate what he’s done

11:56 am on November 9, 2012

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lukzy says:

either sagna or vaminator on the left while coquelin or jenks on ryt pls

1:37 pm on November 9, 2012

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ayomide says:

Arsenal is haveing a very big broblem as at now santos is not our prolem let forget the poor performace agast M united to me I belive ramsy is giving arsenal badluck

2:00 pm on November 9, 2012

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henry says:

Arsenal just needs to let santos go in january.. And pls play podolski as a natural 9. Thats what he was bought for, not 11. We are much more capable than whr we are now..

12:35 pm on November 10, 2012

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