The Verminator Suffers Damage and Wolves Preview

Will I ever see Vermie play again this season?  Achilles injuries are one of the worst, and our favorite center half has re-injured his in training.  Wenger states that the injury is a bit of mystery as scans show no damage, but Thomas is still feeling pain.

“I don’t know where we go with Thomas time-wise but at the moment he can not play. I can’t give you any time scale at all. On the scan his Achilles is completely clear but as soon as he stays out for a while it tightens up and he has pain. We don’t know the source of his pain"


We know that The Verm is no wimp, so it is worrying - this Phantom Pain.  Here's hoping another specialist can clear up the problem.  I just don't want to hear about any treatment involving horse's placenta, okay?  That story still gives me the willies.

Koz is out for two games despite the appeal from Arsenal which got dismissed by the FA yesterday. After seven or so seasons watching soccer, the amount of games suspended by a red card have always baffled me.  Is it one?  Two.  three?  Which is it?  I finally have gotten a handle on the difference between a red card because of a second yellow, dismissal due to violent conduct, and now...two games suspension as this red card was Koz' second of the season.  We did not suffer an additional match suspension due to frivolous appealing which tells me that maybe Koz was not the last defender.  Many have stated that Squillaci was moving into position and could have been considered the last defender.  The camera angle during the game made it difficult to see the rest of the pitch, but if anyone was at the game live, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

So this means our center halves are Squillaci and Djourou.  DJ is not a bad choice in my book anyway for today's match as he's bigger and stronger than Koz and we are playing against an aggressive and physical opponent.  He's good in the air (getting better anyway with each match) and I'm not sure any of the Wolves are going to provide a challenge with skill and quickness which I think is  DJ's Achilles Heel.  Pun intended. Kevin Doyle impressed me last match even though he did not score, I thought he was a threat.  He's been in a drought this season and has not seen the back of the net as of yet.  Hopefully we can keep it that way.

Bad Boy Karl Henry has actually been behaving himself recently.  Perhaps breaking a colleague's leg so soon in the season may have persuaded the midfielder to rein himself in and so he has been playing in a more disciplined manner.  With Cesc finally back from injury and hopefully back to form, let's hope Karl stays that way.  Actually the thought of Henry playing against Spiky Jack Wilshere worries me a bit as Jack is still trying to find the balance between discipline and aggressive play, and I don't want him literally banging into the likes of Karl.

Wolves are coming off a disappointing (for Arsenal fans as well) last minute loss to Manure over the weekend and will want to gain some points to get them up out of the bottom three.  Our boys have to answer for two back to back losses.  We are the Arsenal and have to perform at the level expected from a big club.  We have the talent to do it.  And the lynch pin of our offense is back to full force - so says the manager.  After having one his worst matches in an Arsenal shirt last Sunday, a physically and mentally fully rehabilitated Cesc will be a welcome and necessary sight.

That's all for now sports fans.  Just a last mention that the game is not televised so I'll be searching for a stream to watch and will be back with a match report tomorrow.  Until then...Go Gunners!