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Arsenal’s latest (injury) crisis continues unabated, with two more names added to the injury watch list as Skhodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka, both of whom started the league game against Chelsea last Wednesday, are facing late fitness tests today thanks to knocks they’ve picked up since.
The Gunners’ injury list was already extensive, with Giroud, Cazorla, Monreal, Kolasinac, Koscielny, and Ramsey on it. There is a slighty chance that Ramsey could return for the first leg of the League Cup semifinal, but Wenger didn’t sound too hopeful in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. Wenger himself will of course have to miss the match as he serves the second game of his touchline ban (yes, he did moan about the Hazard penalty again as well).
We don’t recover anybody unfortunately. [...] For Wednesday, no. For Sunday [against Bournemouth], I don’t think anybody will come back.
-Arsene Wenger; source: Arsenal FC
Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez may or may not be on the verge of completing his long-rumored move to Manchester City, and Wenger refused to confirm whether his best player would play in their most important game of the season in the competition that is their last chance at a trophy this season.
What is the most important is to be professional, to perform no matter what the environment is. That’s why I believe that it does not have a big influence on your performance nor the performance of the team. It’s part of our job to deal with that.
I have not decided yet [if Alexis will play]. That will be decided today [Tuesday] or tomorrow morning. Yes [he is in contention].
-Arsene Wenger; source: Arsenal FC
With Arsenal, who crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday and now have won just 3 of 9 in all competitions, possibly missing three starters from last Wednesday’s silly 2-2 draw, this is truly a chance for Chelsea to notch a solid first leg victory that would make the second leg more of a formality than it’s ought to be.