Wenger concern over Arsenal injury crisis after League Cup football
10 January, 2008
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| Arsenal's Danish Striker Nicklas Bendtner(L) vies with Tottenham's Ledley King during their Carling Cup match at the Emirates football stadium. The ma |
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LONDON (AFP)-Arsene Wenger is facing an injury crisis that threatens to derail Arsenal's Premier League title challenge.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run against north London rivals Tottenham to 21 games after Theo Walcott rescued a 1-1 draw in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
But Wenger left the Emirates Stadium counting his walking wounded after Robin van Persie, Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou and Theo Walcott were all injured.
Van Persie was forced off at half-time after suffering a thigh problem. The Dutch striker had been sidelined with a knee injury since October and Wenger will wait nervously for an exact diagnosis on Thursday.
Even more worrying for the Gunners manager were Senderos's knee ligament problem and Djourou's groin strain. With Kolo Toure, Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue on African Nations Cup duty, Wenger is short of defensive options as the title race hots up.
If Senderos and Djourou don't recover in time for Saturday's home game against Birmingham, the league leaders will be left with William Gallas as his only fit centre-back.
"We had no injuries before the game started but now we have lost three players and we have three at the African Nations Cup," he said.
"Basically we lost six players in two days. That is very difficult for us. "Djourou came back from Birmingham with a groin problem. Senderos has a little medial knee ligament that he got in the first half.
"We have problems with the central defence. Who will play against Birmingham? Me!
"We have to assess everything. I cannot tell you how long they will be out. It could be one or two days or one or two weeks."
In the circumstances Wenger was satisfied to escape with a draw from a match that Tottenham dominated for long periods.
Jermaine Jenas gave Juande Ramos's side the lead when he tapped-in Robbie Keane's pass in the 37th minute.
Tottenham, without a win at their bitter rivals' home since 1993, were in charge for most of the second half but couldn't deliver the killer blow.
Walcott made them pay when he ran onto Eduardo's pass in the 79th minute and chested the ball past Radek Cerny after a deflected tackle by Lee Young-Pyo.
Arsenal knocked Spurs out at the same stage of the competition last year and Wenger is confident they can do the same again in the second leg on January 22.
"I believe it is a good result considering Tottenham created more chances. We had to be resilient and didn't give in," he said.
"In two weeks it can change completely. I feel we are in a good position to make it. I don't know if they have a mental block against us but I hope they will still have it in two weeks."
Ramos made the pre-match headlines when he dropped out of form goalkeeper Paul Robinson. The former Leeds star has already lost his England place this season and Ramos refused to give any guarantee he will be back against Chelsea on Saturday.
"He is a good goalkeeper which he has demonstrated with his career so far," Ramos said. "But all the players have to be considered. We have to look at who we have available. I choose who I think is best for each match.
"There are 24 or 25 players in the squad and they all have to play at some stage. It was the same decision as Stalteri, Boateng and all the players who are on the bench."
Ramos was convinced Spurs deserved more than a draw but, although his players must wonder if they will ever beat Arsenal, he was upbeat about the return.
"Of the two games we've played here, we've been close to getting a victory both times," Ramos said. "We've had better opportunities than Arsenal but because of one unfortunate moment we have not ended up with the win.
"We deserved a better result than we got but the tie lasts for 180 minutes."
End.
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