Morning.
By the point you learn this, all our gamers will likely be injured. I’m sorry to be the bearer of unhealthy tidings, however that’s what’s occurring. We go to Dubai to let everybody chill out and decompress, and our solely centre-forward picks up an harm. Nicely, to be exact, an harm ‘scare’, however the very last thing I needed was for Kai Havertz’s hamstrings to be afraid of something.
The information – reported extensively now which tells you it’s not nothing – is that he picked up an issue throughout a coaching session, the complete prognosis shouldn’t be but identified, and will likely be decided on the workforce’s return to England – which I assume will likely be at present as they flew again yesterday. On this season, of all seasons, it’s onerous to not fear. Not simply because we’ve already suffered loads by way of harm, however as a result of I feel the choice we made in January in regards to the switch window comes again into sharp focus if Havertz is sidelined for any time period.
All of us needed somebody so as to add a little bit of high quality, however some extent I made greater than as soon as is that bringing another person in permits to ease the burden on some gamers who’ve performed numerous minutes. Watch Havertz on the finish of the Wolves recreation when the ten males dug so deep to get an enormous win. He was completely exhausted. He then performed 90 minutes in opposition to Man Metropolis, and 90 minutes in opposition to Newcastle in a recreation that was over with half an hour to go. But we had no person on the bench to show to so he didn’t need to play a meaningless half-hour.
Do all these issues add as much as this hamstring harm? Perhaps, perhaps not. It may have occurred anyway. However he, Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka had been within the high 7 of minutes performed this season for Arsenal and all of them have suffered a hamstring pressure of various levels of seriousness. It may simply be a mad confluence of unhealthy luck, to be hit with the litany of accidents we’ve had this season – from Odegaard to Saka to Jesus and now Martinelli and Havertz – however even when that’s the case, you may ask the query about our January enterprise (or lack of) once more.
Whenever you make that acutely aware choice to not add to your squad, it’s important to settle for the accountability if the consequence of that’s gamers break down as a result of they’ve too heavy a burden on them. Earlier than the Newcastle recreation Mikel Arteta spoke about the necessity to maintain everybody match. Ooops. He additionally referred to Havertz as a ‘genetic powerhouse‘. Oooooooops. I do know the January choice wasn’t his and his alone, it was a collective one involving extra than simply the supervisor, however though we’ve obtained a lot proper over the previous couple of years, that is one which they obtained flawed – even when I can perceive the issue they confronted.
So, we’ll wait and see what the complete extent of this Havertz harm is. Hopefully it’s not severe, and hopefully it’s one he can see off with out lacking too many video games. After that we are able to take into consideration how we cope, however the actuality is that with out him Arteta has an enormous headache in the case of choosing his workforce. Leandro Trossard up entrance with a 5 man midfield behind him (now we have midfielders … for now)? A entrance two of some sort? Repurposing a midfielder to play additional ahead? What else is there?
In the meantime, there was extra harm information yesterday with regards Takehiro Tomiyasu, and the very fact he would possibly require knee surgical procedure on the issue that has stored him out of motion for all however 6 minutes of this season. We talked about him a bit on this week’s Arsecast Additional, and I’ve to say at first I really feel actually sorry for him (and for us).
He’s not somebody who doesn’t deal with himself or lives a poor life-style. He’s an important professional, diligent, hard-working, however who has been so unfortunate with harm. I’ve mentioned this earlier than, however there’s one other universe the place we speak about Tomiyasu as a master-stroke within the switch market. Barely £16m for a high class right-back, left-back and centre-half, who provides you depth in each defensive place. I totally perceive conversations about his health, I don’t get anybody who questions his high quality.
He’s an absolute dream of participant, however clearly availability is the most effective capability, and he hasn’t been in a position to keep match persistently. It’s such a disgrace for him, and for the workforce, and the very fact he wasn’t on the journey to Dubai informed you one thing was occurring with him. I do know individuals get pissed off with gamers who’re injured or unfit, which I perceive to an extent, however this morning I hope individuals can put that to 1 aspect to really feel sympathy for a person who has tried his finest however whose physique has let him down.
If you happen to’ve ever performed soccer, you’ll know the worst factor in regards to the recreation shouldn’t be having the ability to play it – for no matter motive. The identical applies to most professionals because it does to these of us who reside for our Sunday League fixtures, and it have to be so robust for Tomiyasu to take care of (please don’t come at me with the pay-packet stuff). Fortunately, Arsenal have a squad constructed to deal with his absence (the polar reverse of our attacking points, btw), however on the coronary heart of this can be a nice participant whose finest years at a giant membership will seemingly go him by. And by the point he’s match once more, the workforce and the squad might properly have moved on – leaving him with little possibility however to do the identical. I want him all the most effective with the surgical procedure and the restoration, and I hope he can come by means of this to drag on our shirt once more in some unspecified time in the future.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. Have an important Wednesday, particularly if you happen to’re crying your coronary heart out someplace.
