The international break drags on as usual. As of this writing, we still have twelve days before the Gunners take the pitch again.
The good news is that this break is giving a few players some needed rest and recover.
Declan Rice withdrew from the England squad to nurse a thigh problem and to gain some needed rest, while Piero Hincapie also decided to remain in North London to recover from a long stretch of matches, including the World Cup. Jurrien Timber joined his Netherlands teammates, but his playing time has been seriously reduced.
So, what is the bad news?
Kai Havertz picked up a thigh injury during Germany’s recent match v Netherlands , while Martin Odegaard sustained an ankle injury v Portugal. Havertz could be our four weeks, while the Arsenal captain’s injury looks less serious.
I understand the importance of international football, I really do, however, the fear of injury to star players is always a major concern. Injuries during international breaks can have a serious impact on a domestic club’s season. The Gunners have 17 senior players currently on international duty.
Ironically though, this break did come at a could time for Arsenal. The lads crashed and burned at Brighton, so this time away could ultimately be a good thing for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Cheers!
Gunner1953
Thierry Henry on Man City, “If Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 charges, I don’t understand how a points deduction can be enough. For me, the Premier League titles should be stripped, the trophies taken away, and the records corrected. Relegation should also be considered.”
