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Kieran Gibbs adds to Arsenal's defensive injury worries ahead of FA Cup final
Kieran Gibbs has added to the extraordinary defensive crisis at Arsenal that has already sidelined Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and almost certainly Shkodran Mustafi from Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Gabriel and Koscielny were both effectively ruled out immediately after leaving the pitch against Everton on Sunday but, worryingly, Mustafi, is still not back training following a suspected concussion against Sunderland eight days ago. It all means that captain Per Mertesacker is preparing to make his first start for more than a year following knee surgery.
"I used to do this for 15 years so I expect myself to be absolutely ready no matter what comes,” said Mertesacker yesterday. “That’s my mind-set. No matter what happens or is facing me on Saturday, I’m going to go for it. I owe this to this team and to this club. My mind-set is 120 minutes plus penalties."
It is understood that Mustafi made an attempt to rejoin training on Sunday but felt dizziness. It has also now emerged that Gibbs is still suffering from a thigh injury and, although he had not trained this week until a test yesterday, Arsenal remain hopeful that he will be an option at left wing-back.
“It just shows you how unpredictable football can be; it’s absolutely unbelievable,” said Wenger. “We have been hit hard in a position where we will need to be strong on Saturday.”
It leaves a series of huge selection decisions for a match that will essentially determine both the success of the season and frame the backdrop for crunch talks over Wenger’s future. Mustafi finished the match against Sunderland despite taking a blow to the head and even spoke to the media after the game but has not subsequently trained fully after complaining of feeling ill.
The Football Association’s message for suspected concussion is, ‘If in doubt, sit them out’ and there are clear guidelines over a graduated return for any concussion. At amateur level, players should rest for at least 14 days before attempting to train. At an ‘enhanced care settling’ of a Premier League football club, there is still a five-day process, beginning once a player is symptom-free with light training moving through football-specific exercise, non-contact and then full-contact practice before playing on the fifth day.
“We still have some worries,” said Wenger. “He’s still sick at the moment and has not trained yet.” Nacho Monreal and Rob Holding are now certain to start but, should Wenger want to retain his three-man defence, it is increasingly likely that he must turn to Mertesacker. The German has played only 37 minutes this season - against Everton on Sunday – after damaging his knee during a pre-season match last summer. "It’s completely unexpected," said Mertesacker. "I made the squad because of two injuries and then I came on due to one red card and one injury. But you need to be prepared at any time.”
Wenger says that he will assess training right up until Saturday morning before deciding his defensive system. Of Merteseacker, he said: “I don’t know as he has not played 90 minutes for a long time. He has the leadership qualities. It depends a little bit on the system I will go for.” Arsenal have won eight out of nine games since switching to a 3-4-2-1 formation that has particularly also helped wing-backs Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin, as well as the two central midfielders in Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka. Alexis Sanchez must also be assessed but Wenger expects his top scorer to be fit.