If it wasn’t for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal would be left cursing themselves after seeing their rivals take the lead in the second half of the ‘˜North London Derby’.
If it wasn’t for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal would be left cursing themselves after seeing their rivals take the lead in the second half of the ‘North London Derby’. Earlier, Tottenham went ahead in the 56th when Belgian winger Nacer Chadli scored after Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini lost possession in midfield as the ball was collected by Christian Eriksen, who laid it off to winger Erik Lamela.
Done and dusted, the Gunners did put up fightback but at the cost of yet another draw. The result sees the Emirates faithful dropping points as league leaders, Chelsea await in the next EPL fixture. Even as fans craved for a defensive cover in midfield and the back, manager Arsene Wenger stuck by his players and refused to be moved by the calls from the former.
But as the season gets on a roll, Wenger seems to be fallen in jeopardy. Arsenal will be without a host of first-team players for their crucial matches against Chelsea and Galatasaray and it looks like the Gunners are facing yet another season filled with less play and more injuries.
The Gunners were left licking their wounds after their draw with Spurs and more so, captain Mikel Arteta and influential midfielder, Aaron Ramsey picked up a calf problem and a hamstring injury respectively whilst Jack Wilshere took a knock to the ankle as well, sending Wenger in a crisis mode.
With huge games coming up thick and fast, Wenger has confirmed that both Arteta and Ramsey will miss the Gunners’ next two games against Galatasaray and Chelsea.
Speaking in a post-Spurs game he said, “It is a concern that Ramsey did his hamstring. I don’t understand because he had a good rest this week and I didn’t play him against Southampton on Tuesday. It’s a surprise because he’s usually a resistant boy.” Wenger has also admitted that about the concern to his most squad members by the number of injuries at the club, as Arteta, Ramsey and potentially Wilshere will now join Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy and Theo Walcott on the treatment table.
He added, “Suddenly we are short because we lost three players [against Tottenham], and let’s not forgot that we already have two out long-term plus Theo Walcott, that’s six. Abou Diaby is not ready, so it starts to become a worry.”
After the Spurs game, many Arsenal fans were left dejected, mostly about the result and the injuries as well. With the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City taking huge strides towards the EPL and the Champions League, Wenger’s ineptitude in the transfer market has cost the side dearly. Even though there is dearth of talent in the midfield area, a world-class defensive midfield player might just cost the Gunners’ dearly in May!
