With player of the season Samir Nasri confirmed to be out for at least three weeks, Arsene Wenger has had some thinking to do about how to deal with the Frenchman’s absence.
Nasri is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 14 goals, and the natural back-up for the left-sided role, Andrey Arshavin, is horribly off-form at the moment.
The manager has hinted that Nicklas Bendtner could fill in on the left, and today added that he might be tempted to recall some of his currently on-loan players.
The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are all on loan in the Championship, and the manager would rather recall one of these players than dip into the transfer market on deadline day.
The boss explained: “Denilson looks to have a hamstring problem but certainly less serious than Nasri. But I have given a few players on loan, I might recall some.
“We have Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, we have especially Henri Lansbury who has gone on loan. I can recall Kyle Bartley but he has not played at all in the Premier League.
“It is difficult at the moment. Ramsey is out on loan for one month. If it is a month you have to wait for the month unless we have exceptional injuries, then you can have the request [to recall a player]. But Ramsey needs games so even if you recall him he needs first games before he plays.”
Striker Bendtner is also disappointed that the team has lost Nasri, but believes Arsenal have the squad to cope with injuries, and mustn’t let this blow derail their campaign.
“Samir has been very important and scored some great goals,” said the Dane. “He can win games by himself, so obviously we will miss him – but someone else will have to step up and take his place.
“February is a big month for us and at the end of it we will see where we are at. Hopefully it will all look fantastic.”
The Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rumours seem to have died down a little, and although I was initially sceptical about signing a 17-year-old from League One, he might turn out quite useful; I’m not confident about three weeks of Bendtner or Arshavin out on the left.
Maybe £35million for Andy Caroll would do it? £50million for Ashley Young? Some of the rumours I’ve heard today are mad. I hate the transfer window…
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