Morning.
By the point you learn this, all our gamers shall be injured. I’m sorry to be the bearer of dangerous tidings, however that’s what’s taking place. 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 wished 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 is just not but recognized, and shall be decided on the workforce’s return to England – which I assume shall be immediately as they flew again yesterday. On this season, of all seasons, it’s arduous to not fear. Not simply because we’ve already suffered a lot when it comes to harm, however as a result of I believe the choice we made in January concerning the switch window comes again into sharp focus if Havertz is sidelined for any time period.
All of us wished somebody so as to add a little bit of high quality, however a degree 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 sport 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 sport 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? Possibly, possibly not. It might have occurred anyway. However he, Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka have 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 might simply be a mad confluence of dangerous 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.
If you make that acutely aware choice to not add to your squad, you must settle for the duty 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 sport Mikel Arteta spoke about the necessity to hold 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 received a lot proper over the previous couple of years, that is one which they received incorrect – 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 a large headache relating to deciding on his workforce. Leandro Trossard up entrance with a 5 man midfield behind him (we’ve midfielders … for now)? A entrance two of some type? 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 actual fact he would possibly require knee surgical procedure on the issue that has saved him out of motion for all however 6 minutes of this season. We talked about him a bit on this week’s Arsecast Further, and I’ve to say firstly I really feel actually sorry for him (and for us).
He’s not somebody who doesn’t care for himself or lives a poor life-style. He’s a terrific 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 absolutely 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 capacity, and he hasn’t been in a position to keep match constantly. It’s such a disgrace for him, and for the workforce, and the actual fact he wasn’t on the journey to Dubai instructed you one thing was happening with him. I do know folks get annoyed with gamers who’re injured or unfit, which I perceive to an extent, however this morning I hope folks can put that to at least one facet to really feel sympathy for a person who has tried his finest however whose physique has let him down.
In the event you’ve ever performed soccer, you’ll know the worst factor concerning the sport is just not having the ability to play it – for no matter cause. 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 cope with (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 it is a nice participant whose finest years at an enormous membership will doubtless go him by. And by the point he’s match once more, the workforce and the squad could 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 way of this to tug on our shirt once more sooner or later.
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. Have a terrific Wednesday, particularly in case you’re crying your coronary heart out someplace.
