BBC match report just says "Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski could return after extended post-World Cup breaks". COULD be back. Is Wenger doing a press conference this afternoon?
Also, perhaps Shad Forsyth could be advising Wenger not to rush them back. With regards to the team that starts on Saturday, I agree with A87, the Ox and Rosicky both deserve a chance, we need to use our squad- i'm not saying change the team completely for every game but we have a big game on Wednesday so it would make sense to perhaps change the team a little for Everton.
Germans played their final game 9 days after the French. Giroud and Koscielny have played a couple of times for us now... They didn't get as extended a break as the Germans did.
Was reading up on a Bayern match (anything bar working...) and half their squad is still being rested as well so it's not just us. You can't win though. If we play them and they get crocked it'll be Arsene's fault for "rushing them back"
Sounds like Giroud had just under a weeks worth of training before the Monaco game... So what's that... Training started 3 weeks ago for him? I suppose if the German guys starting training a fortnight ago that would make sense. But surely you'd be fit to play football after less than 2 weeks of training.
As I said earlier the German's were entitled under FIFA rules to a four week break.I suppose it's possible Giroud may have chosen to come back earlier,Wilshere certainly returned to training before he had to. I've just seen Murray's post about Germany playing more games than France so possibly that is the reason the French lads needed less of a break.
Meh 2 extra games. Schurrle played in the final and scored last week for Chelsea. Just all seems a bit odd and overkill on our part. Of course if Schurrle collapses half way through the season I'll eat my own words.
Just read a depressing Stat..... last 14 visits to top 5 sides we have taken 3 out of 42 points, conceding 42 goals and last PL win was Oct 2010 against City. Hopefully that will change this year! But then we have said that since Oct 2010 I guess
Is that playing a team who were top 5 at the time of the game or who finished top 5 at the end of the season ?
2nd game of the season sure, but this is *exactly* the sort of game Arsenal have got to start winning if they are serious title contenders. That said, it'll probably end a draw.
Not sure, you can always twist it of course but no matter how you twist it the stat is depressing. But time for change! hopefully.
