Latest on Kierran Gibbs injury, starting line-up for Spurs
You may witness Kierran Gibbs back in action by the middle of this month.
The Englishman has been missing since limping off after just 37 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on January 30, but he is now improving in rehabilitation for his thigh strain and likely to be back for the run-in to Arsenal’s campaign.
The 23-year-old was initially expected to remain on the sidelines for just three weeks, but scans on the next morning after the Liverpool match revealed that Gibbs would need at least six weeks to recover.
It was a thigh injury so severe that it prompted the addition of Nacho Monreal on transfer deadline day, but with the Spaniard ineligible to play in the Champions League and Andre Santos’ sub-par form forcing a loan move back to Brazil, the Gunners will be missing an orthodox left-back in the visit to Bayern Munich a week from this coming Wednesday.
Gibbs is expected to resume some casual training by the end of this week and if all goes well, the fullback could make the squad for March 16’s trip to Swansea City at the Liberty stadium where he netted a sublime goal in the FA cup at the start of the new year.
Injuries have not hindered Arsenal this season as much as they have in recent campaigns. Indeed, Bacary Sagna, who will be deputized by Carl Jenkison on Sunday, and Abou Diaby – set set for a pre-match fitness test tomorrow morning – are the only injury concerns for Arsene Wenger apart from Kierran Gibbs at the moment.
For the players who will be available for selection, here is the preferable line-up for the clash at White Hart Lane.
your kidding me…podolski up top?
are you a real fan?
you obviously don’t much arsenal games.
If we stopped deploying Podolski as a left-winger and played him upfront, he would surely have scored off half of the chances Giroud has squandered at important times this season.
Podolski (in one-on-one finishing) is as good as Eduardo was pre-injury and that is dependably good.
I chose him upfront (even though Wenger has never and will never play him there) because he has the physical presence which the pacey Walcott lacks and the clinical finishing that Giroud and Gervinho are missing. He is the better all-round choice of a striker we have but we’ve shifted him to the left flank to make assists (which he has even succeeded at) as if we have some deadly striker in the middle to take advantage of his crosses.
Even on the left wing he has produced a stunning 10 assists and 13 goals. Yes, the left is where he shines for Germany but that’s because Germany doesn’t miss him upfront like us. They have better options than Gervinho and Giroud to play as the target man so Podolski can be afforded to be on the left.
Agreed 100 %. Most astute football minds would see that makes sense.
good to put giroud on bench.
we have go replacements for this players.rosinky,yaneris,miguel.rosinky and podolky should start but do not use ramsey.at all.
morning fellow gunnerz?de line up wd be gd bt i would suggest rosisky instead ov diarby wz his injuries.lets wait 4 de game
Ur suggestns are nt quite bad,bt wat is d best formulae for dis game is…… Playin pod @d left flank since weng wldnt let him top attack for some games lik dis 1 n den play walc @d ryt flank,whil our lady Giroud contines 2 find his missin boots n d ability 2 scare off defenders @d top strike role…pls wenger shld leav rams out for d first half bt he shldnt 4get 2 play my best midfielder(wilshere n carzola) in d attack midfield role…!!!! Arsenal wINs!!
Diaby OUT (Even nt on the bench), Rosicky IN.
gunnerz u gonna loose…3..1 spurs…bale ,adebayor,holtby will pile more misery on u
Less i 4get….i jst wnt 2 ask 1 very important questn n i beg u guys 2 answer it for me…!!! Y IS WENGER NOT PLAYING MY ”ROSICKY”@ll n in such an importnt game…..??????? Pls answer me.
Still waitin 4 ur responses.
This is the second Arsenal site that has Podolski upfront???? strange as I have never seen him play there….
As a spurs fan I actually fear Giroud more than any other player, yes he misses chances and isnt technically the best but he works hard and is always involved both aerially and with his excellent movement.
Cazorla will go missing in a packed midfield as will Holtby
Wilshere will be excellent probably but doesnt win games on his own and I can see him and Dembele carrying the ball back and fourth like a basketball match.
And Walcott will be up against Ekotto and the last two times that has happened at WHL Theo hasnt had a kick.
Wenger will have to accommodate Bale….you cant leave him to counter attack against you like you allowed Villa, Swansea, Bayern and City to do…..I dont think Arsenal know how to play any other way…..and no matter how you set up if Mertesackjer is left one one with Bale then its going to get messy
If wenge nids 2 win dis derby,he shud avoid d liks of diaby&ramsey frm d game.dis is an important win 4 arsenal not a jokn mata.
Carry on.