Taken straight from BBC Sport - Look away Arsenal fans. It is bad news. Mesut Ozil has been ruled out for a further seven weeks. The Gunners originally said the German would be back in six weeks after sustaining a knee ligament injury early in October. However, Ozil has said: "I've already been injured for five weeks and I'm going to be out for another seven. It's a long process. Injuries are part of football, but life goes on and you have to keep your spirits up." One further line from Mesut Ozil's injury is that the German FA first said the midfielder would be out for 12 weeks. Arsene Wenger then disputed that by saying he could be back within six weeks. But it turns out the Germans were right all along. This is a killer blow, and we either need Cazorla to really pull his socks up, or we need to make a signing in Jan (preferably a DM) so that we can change our formation and minimise the loss of Ozil.
Interesting article here about Ozil having problems with his father - http://www.marca.com/en/2014/11/13/en/football/international_football/1415880351.html I'd assume the rest of it is hyperbole by Marca though.
If he's back in 7 weeks, that will be at the beginning of the window anyway, so by then you won't have to make up for his absence.
Doh! Of course, I didn't think of that! We'll just have to play Chambers in every position instead then...
This is no surprise, how many times have we been given so called return dates for these to drag on for much longer. They say another 7 weeks? Is this a return to football or he'll be back in training? If he's back in training then add another 2-3 weeks before he starts playing or gets up to speed with things. Dreadful news to be honest and it only compounds our injury and out-of-form player problems. One of Cazorla, Wilshere and Ramsey must step up and very soon. I'd give them another few weeks, and if they still don't play at a high level, then i'd play Sanchez as our main CAM. At this level, we can't afford to ****ing wait for these guys to start performing. We need to get to go on a winning run asap.
I suppose an attacking midfield of Oxo - Sanchez - Walcott could work, though is very short. That could stick a rocket up Cazorla/Wilshere/Ramsey
The question is he back in training or back to playing? If he's just back to training then you have to add another 2-3 weeks before he plays competitive football.
I think Sanchez would easily work as our main CAM. We can play OXO-WEL-Walcott front three. I think Wenger will have to make some changes if the others don't kick into consistent form. I'm sure one of Cazorla, Wilshere and Ramsey will step it up.
It was from the German FA, but Wenger said he'd be back in 6 weeks (which I think I think would have made it next week)
In good news, Giroud is back in training, and despite what people say about him we have missed him, we have no aerial presence without him or Kos and sometimes we need someone who can hold the ball up, who can provide a target for wingers to cross at, and who can link up with others. Not saying he'll start over Welbz but its good to have him back. Also Arteta is back too. He's the only one who can actually keep our midfield organized and in shape and Debuchy should be back soon so he can take RB and Calum can play CB until Kos returns which at that point I'd play Kos and Calum as CBs.
Surely this is Diabys final season? He's out of contract and he's not worth the medical staff time. He'll be 29 soon and has played a handful of games. He's not worth the staff time even if he'll play for free.
I like Diaby and think he's a real talent, but he really needs to hang them up now. I hope he's doing something else more constructive like getting into coaching or something like that. He did after all go to the world famous Clairefontaine academy, so he probably has plenty to offer. A waste of talent not just for him, not just for Arsenal FC but for world football.
SHOCK NEWS! - Apparently Diaby isn't dead quite yet!!! http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-boost-olivier-giroud-returns-4624259 According to the bastion of truth that is the Daily Mirror, Arsenal have denied that Diaby is out injured for 3 months, and instead say he's still on course with his recovery (not sure when he's supposed to be back though)
