Morning all.
The Arsenal gamers have a couple of days off after our win over Crystal Palace, because of the truth we don’t play once more till subsequent Tuesday. If the Dubai journey was a pleasant break, it was additionally a whole lot of exhausting work, and that is realistically the final likelihood to offer the lads a couple of days to relaxation/recharge between now and the top of the season. If we stay concerned in a title chase, and proceed our European marketing campaign, it’s going to be hectic, so any alternative to preserve some vitality might be price taking.
I watched Brighton versus Wolves final night time. Not a very thrilling sport by any means, however I assumed long-time Arsenal goal Pedro Neto was fairly vigorous. His tempo in behind is such an efficient weapon, and his closing ball was normally fairly good – sadly their forwards weren’t on the proper wavelength. I do know he’s had his damage points, however as a participant who may function on each wings and supply high quality depth/cowl for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, he’d be effectively up there on my listing.
Elsewhere, studies that Mohamed Salah’s damage picked up at AFCON is worse than feared don’t idiot me. He has a hamstring downside, however with our dwelling sport towards Liverpool looming, I absolutely anticipate him to be out there for them. Even when he’s additionally out there for Egypt. Someway he will likely be in each locations without delay.
Egypt, with out Mohamed Elneny within the aspect for his or her final sport, have certified for the knock-out levels, drawing 2-2 with Cape Verde yesterday, a consequence which leaves these sides first and second within the group. Egypt’s three attracts give them 3 factors to Cape Verde’s 7, and so they undergo by the pores and skin of their enamel. It seemed as if Ghana would end above them, however from being 2-0 up in ninetieth minute, they conceded two damage time objectives to Mozambique to finish up third within the group. Blimey.
There are video games over the following two days which can determine who goes via as better of the third positioned groups, but it surely appears to be like iffy for Ghana and for hosts Ivory Coast who bought battered 4-0 by Equatorial Guineau. I haven’t been following AFCON too intently, in all honesty, but it surely does look as if there have been some actual shock outcomes all through.
In the meantime, Japan’s progress within the Asian Cup will likely be determined tomorrow once they tackle Indonesia. A draw can be sufficient to see them undergo, and that will imply Takehiro Tomiyasu being absent for one more week or so, at the very least. Reviews this morning that Arsenal are targetting a ‘versatile defender’ earlier than the top of the January window could also be partly knowledgeable by Tomiyasu’s involvement on this match however no matter occurs he’ll be again mid-February on the newest.
Reviews concerning the potential return of Jurrien Timber proceed to be conflicting. On the coronary heart of it there’s a consistency in that he seems to be making good progress, and that’s clearly a optimistic factor, however fairly when he’ll be prepared for first workforce motion once more stays to be seen. He had surgical procedure on his ACL on August sixteenth, and it’s now just a bit over 5 months since that time.
Simply to try to put that into context with regards different Arsenal males who’ve had the identical damage within the not too distant previous, listed here are a few examples.
Rob Holding
Suffered ACL damage: Dec fifth 2018Returned to motion: Sep twenty fourth 2019Days out: 294
Hector Bellerin
Suffered ACL damage: Jan nineteenth 2019Returned to motion: Sep twenty fourth 2019Days out: 267
Calum Chambers
Suffered ACL damage: Dec twenty ninth 2019Returned to motion: Nov tenth 2019 (U21s) : Dec third (first workforce)Days out: 318 / 341
Momahed Elneny’s knee damage final 12 months was by no means formally confirmed as an ACL, however I imagine that’s what he suffered in January 2023. He returned to motion in September, a interval of 262 days between damage and his first look again.
Not one of the different Premier League gamers who picked up one of many spate of August ACLs, equivalent to Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings or Wesley Fofana, are being touted as near a return proper now. Actual Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, who did his ACL in early August, spoke lately about his potential comeback, and dominated himself out of Euro 2024, saying, “If I’m fortunate, I will play a sport in Could. However I’ll by no means be 100% ready for an enormous match.”
So, whereas each participant is totally different, and a few heal faster and higher than others, it’s solely been 161 days since Timber’s damage. Even one other month barely comes near the standard minimal time-period gamers take get well from what is among the most severe accidents they will maintain. If Mikel Arteta sounded cautious when speaking about him the opposite day, it’s most likely simply widespread sense.
He stated:
In the meanwhile he’s nonetheless very, very removed from competing. That’s the truth of it. We’re hopeful that he can have an effect on the finish of the season, if every part goes effectively, and it appears to be like like there’s a likelihood that which may occur however I believe it’s too early to make that decision.
So, if Arsenal are after a defender this month, it’s most likely linked to Timber greater than anything. Not simply his absence, however an arrival may be certain that there’s no speeding him again as a result of we discover ourselves in a state of affairs the place we’re just a bit bit determined. The truth of an ACL damage is a reasonably constant restoration and rehabilitation interval throughout the board, and except one thing verging on miraculous is going on with him, I don’t anticipate to see him for some time but.
Righto, that’s it for this morning. There’s an Arsecast Additional for you in all the standard podcast locations, and we’ll have an episode of The 30 for you over on Patreon a bit in a while.
Have a great one.
