Morning all.
I think Hincapie’s jumper is the one I’d choose if I absolutely had to have one. Neither are my cup of tea but William Saliba’s is too loud. Saying that, I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever owned one Christmas jumper in my life and that was red with a few subtle gold stars on it. Yep, boring aren’t I…
This time next week, the big day will be upon us and I’ll be enjoying a nice long walk on the beach on Christmas Day for the first time in my life.
Enough about me, Sky Sports has released a few facts/stats about our injury numbers and they do not make good reading.
Not a table we want or need to be topping that’s for sure. As Mikel Arteta acknowledged just a few days ago, when injuries occur, they have an effect on the other players as their workload increases.
Last season was awful as far as injuries go as not only did we suffer many, but a lot of them were long term. Jesus, Havertz, Saka, Odegaard and Calafiori to name the worst cases but others had time out too. With a small squad, injuries had a huge impact on the squad. Going into this season though, with our deep and strong squad, I thought the injuries would somewhat decrease, however, they’ve been just as bad, if not worse.
But one has to wonder why Ben White, who is not long back from making a full recovery after an extensive period of time out injured, played three games in a row. Why Lewis-Skelly didn’t start at left back, allowing Timber to play right back instead I’ve no idea. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of White but how long had he been out for? We were playing Wolves, surely both of Rice and Zubimendi didn’t need to start, not when Norgaard is a very good alternative.
I know it’s easy to be critical or make alternative suggestions after a game but let’s be honest, how many times have you scratched aged you head when looking at the team when it’s announced pre game? Or said to yourself, “I cannot believe player x, y or z is starting yet another game”? I ask myself a similar question when Arteta makes his changes.
We’ll see how the season pans out over the next few months but if injuries end up playing a big part of why we struggle in the fight to the end, then questions really need to asked of Arteta’s management of a big squad. A big squad which he was so desperate to have. A big squad which is there to help prevent injuries, not just for when we get them.
I read in The Athletic that the stats for player changes each game this season made by managers from the start of the campaign through to mid November varies significantly. Guardiola for example had made an average of 3.4 whilst Arteta had made 1.8.
Make of that what you like…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico,
Things are not going to get better anytime soon. The calender is far too crowded, too any games and not enough recovery time between them.
There will be little rest for our international players in the coming summer with the World Cup playing out in North America, endless flights from one venue to another, endless interviews with a voracious media, Mexico and the USA in the height of the summer, only Canada will provide a bit of relief.
By the time our players return the new season will be about to start so not let up in the overcrowded schedule.
Football authorities must get together put their money grabbing preoccupation aside and consider the welfare of their most vital asset the players.
Morning Cicero, but we could make things slightly easier for ourselves with more changes and substitutions surely? We have a good few players not really being used.
Good post Rico, it’s interesting Cicero how very little input we get from the mouthpiece of the players, that is the PFA, do they not have the welfare of their members at heart?
Or maybe the players themselves don’t mind the extra fixtures in international football or european club football. As fans the club game is paramount, but for the players it’s international football and CL next. So maybe the silence of the PFA reflects its members perhaps?
The clubs only have themselves to blame because they never show a unified front and that allows agents and players to play one off against the other whilst to a lesser degree we the fans are also not blameless, we just want to win.
The people who run the clubs are the same people who run FIFA and UEFA, it’s all about the bottom line so don’t expect anything to change…
Morning and thanks Kev.
I think a few players have made reference to the numbers of fixtures expected of them, managers too but you are right, the PFA could do a lot more.
I’m surprised clubs in Europe don’t field a very different starting 11 to that in Europe and the PL. perhaps the message would be loud and clear. Saying that, I love the FA Cup.
Just really picked things up from this morning. It does seem strange that following last season’s title charge coming unstuck due to injury that we manage to enhance the squad and yet fall foul to the same problem.
As an amateur I used to train Tuesday and Thursday and play Saturday and Sunday with cross country running on Hampstead Heath in the close season but even that was nothing like the intensity that these guys go through. The number of games and the amount of their training must be taking a toll .
I know that after a set time you reach a plateau and then it’s a case of maintenance rather than gaining a further step up.
Do we train too hard ? Is the competition for places so intense that they push too hard ?
Only the professionals know , or at least they should do.
We seem to suffer from soft tissue injuries rather than the knocks from being kicked off the park . We live in a world of reaching red lines and too many of our players seem to be approaching theirs.
It’s always been a short life with the playing career ending so early and the people that run the game don’t care about them as the various academies are churning out the next batch as we speak.
Just read this , true or not I don’t know but I do know that the pitches are identical at Colney to the stadium.
The pitches are very firm because of the synthetic grass woven into the natural grass, this and the drainage system that can open up to let water drain and driers to dry it up.
Whatever it is there is certainly some form of training, pitches, medical team issue within the club.
I think it’s something to do with the surface the players train and play on too. Possibly the training too although I think we had a lot of injuries under Wenger and Emery so I’m leaning towards the surface. Still think Arteta could rotate more often though and use more substitutes..
From being a week away from a return, Havertz is reportedly ruled out until the middle of January.. True or not, I don’t know.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Nice write Rico with those stats we are doing well to be up the top of the ladder with that number of injuries. however, it seems that just about every year we lead the injury list. so, taking out the cheap kicks to our players ankles by opposition players we need to have someone take a good hard look at why we receive so many and work out if it is coursed by training too hard, our training ground or lack of rotation.
If I could change the rules, I would not schedule any games from dec 20th to 5th of Jan to give the players a rest and time with their family over Christmas / new year celebrations.
Arsenal are close to announcing a club record £300k a week new contract for Saka which will run until 2031.
Morning Geoff, Cicero, all.
Good news re Saka…
Good news we are possibly signing Saka for another 5 years
That’s some contract, £1.2m per month, approximately £14m per year. A record commitment by the club of £70m over the lifetime of his contract if he sees it through to 2031, but in essence that’s still cheap for what we’re getting as there’s no transfer fee.
I see Crystal Palace put out a second string team last night,although some of the big players came on for the last 20/30 minutes.
A smart move by the club, as few clubs could afford Saka’s wages on top of a substantial transfer fee. He’ll be 31 by the time his contract expires. Ready for a move to Saudi perhaps for one final huge payday.
I should think he’d be wealthy enough by the time he gets to 31.
Absurd wages in football…
Palace have Leeds away tomorrow night, no resting their big guns for that I suspect. Really don’t blame them for last nights team selection. Mind you, it backfired. Lol
Sounds like Zubimendi is fine after missing training and Arteta suggested Havertz is not as far from a return as the media stated.
Sounds positive Rico and I’m a big proponent for positivity.
For example, I’m positive that Gyokeres will score tomorrow, I’m positive about Trossard starting and having a big game and Rice and Zubimendi.
But I draw the line when I come to England cricket…
🤣🤣 Kev
Got in about an hour ago and I thought I’d have a look, fool that I am, at what’s happening in Australia and switched on to find that Duckett had just got out for 4 runs and so at lunch England are 5 for 1…
Needless to say I’m now watching YouTube
I thought England would have been giving us Aussie’s a run for our money,
Morning all.
New post up.