If you saw Arsenal play Newcastle to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night, you might have noticed that the Gunners were lacking their usual fluid passing game. That’s because Arsenal is in the middle of a mini-injury crisis, says coach Arsene Wenger. Starters Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were all missing Wednesday, and will be on the sidelines again this weekend.
“We have no one coming back for Sunday [at Middlesbrough],” Wenger said. “And to put a date on that is very difficult. If you ask me who will be the first to come back, then I think it could be Mathieu Flamini. Cesc and Alexander Hleb are on the same line but whether they come back next week or in two weeks I don’t know.”
Arsenal’s beautiful passing game has gone missing in the absence of these big names, but the team still managed to eke out results. The undefeated Gunners still lead the English Premier League with 37 points, four ahead of second-place Manchester United. Wenger recently said the absence of Fabregas is the most crucial: “We want Cesc with us. He’s a big player. He is world-class.” Unfortunately, the Spaniard’s hamstring injury will likely keep him out of Sunday’s game and possibly the crucial one against Chelsea next weekend. However, van Persie, who has been out seven weeks, may return in time for the trip to Stamford Bridge.