re: Arsenal 2013/2014 Season Long Thread

I don't think I'm being all that pessimistic, given our injury record the last couple of seasons. Full strength I think we have the best squad in England. Mentally I think we've turned a corner after the 8-2 Man U game. Tactically Wenger has shown more variation than I can remember. We are damn good. We can actually defend set pieces fairly well and our goalkeeping is improving. I don't see a team in Europe that we couldn't beat with this group of players.

But Injuries are the part of the game that no one can control. We've had some of the worst luck when it comes to injuries since 2006 that I've ever seen. What other team suffered 3 double leg fractures in 4 years? Diaby and Eduardo have never been the same, and if the fans had their way Ramsey would have been shipped off last year. Not only that we've had nagging muscle injuries that come from players being overplayed for club and country.

Look at a list of our injuries so far.
I don't see how there is any way we can get close to full strength, if the current rate of injuries hold, especially given that the Christmas run in will include games in four competitions if we make it past Chelsea in the COC. This isn't an imaginary worry in my view. And it will take real game time for all these players, especially those who have been out long term like Ox and Lukas, to regain their form. If this is pessimistic then so be it, but it is also reality as I see it.