What's causing them? News reports coming through today that Ramsey may need surgery this summer. This also out today: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...senal-slump-bottom-of-201314-injury-list.html "Physioroom.com has also conducted research for the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons and, in each of those years, Arsenal were among the seven worst affected clubs. In 2010-11, they lost 1,478 days to injury, second behind only Tottenham on 1,486. In 2011-12, Arsenalâs tally was 1,343 (the 3rd worse) and in 2012-13, it was the seventh worse on 955 days. Over the four year period, the club who have lost players for the most days to injury is actually Newcastle United on 5,645, followed by Arsenal on 5,492 and Tottenham on 5,330." "There are numerous theories, such as the training methods, a style of football that might invite dangerous tackles, an over-reliance on certain players because of the size of the squad, a transfer policy that might favour technically gifted but more fragile players or simply bad luck. The statistics since 2010, however, clearly suggest that Arsenalâs injury record is about more than simply ill fortune." === What's causing it?
I ain't an expert but... 1) football pitches (inc training pitches) are very fast...short grass and well watered 2) arsenals type of football, tippy tappy (not being dismissive) with lots of twisting stopping and starting etc. puts pressure on joints and muscles. 3) modern day boots with blades cause foot, ankle, knee and hip joints to twist more than studded boots. 4) you have a very good first team but have to play them too much as your back up players aren't as good so they tend to be rushed back and as a result break down again.
I'd also suggest the "Arsenal don't like it up 'em so throw a few 'strong' challenges in and they'll collapse" mentality that you see from a few teams each season though I attribute point 4 to most of our woes. Also a bit of criticism from ex players to the training/fitness methods used.
From the little snippets Ive read over the last few years I would say it is down to the way we train. Too much running. Not enough strength and mobility work. I would be interested in seeing what sort of nutritional advice our players get too.
It is strange but I don't think I'd ever heard of an ACL injury until about 15 years ago. To think when I was a kid there were no restrictions on how much sport I played, I played district/county stuff and it was completely unregulated, I could play 4 games in 2 days at weekends and no-one would bat an eyelid, these days kids can't spend more than a few hours training/playing yet when they reach pro level there are far more long term injuries now than before regulations kicked in. The more I think about it the less I understand it....
