Even though Arsenal performed tremendously well in the last FA Cup fifth round game against Hull City, they eventually lost their key players for respective injuries which is a major blow for the Emirate side. Gunners convincingly defeated Steve Bruce side by a big 4-0 margin in their den and raised an alarming bell to other English clubs for rest of the English season. Although, they are now in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup, but absence of players like Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker, and Gabriel Paulista would definitely make them vulnerable not in the FA but premiere league games. Taking it as a biggest blow, manager Arsene Wenger expressed his deep concerns over available options at the center back and if it would suffice considering the importance of remaining games. Their next big showdown is against in-form Barcelona in return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and Wegner just hopes to get back Mertesacker and Gabriel by then.
Talking about the setbacks his side had to come across in victory that could possibly be lethal for them, 66-year-old Frenchman said, “I’m a bit under shock there because we lost our two centre-backs in the game and after we lost Aaron Ramsey. Mertesacker is just a cut on his eye and looks to be very short. Gabriel is a hamstring and Ramsey is a thigh problem. To me, the most serious looks to be Ramsey. He has a thigh problem, I think it is a thigh strain.”
Adding about the silence in the celebration that followed after their entry into the knockout stage of the FA Cup and why it cost them more than what it gained, Frenchman explained, “The only disappointing thing when you look back at this game is the injuries we’ve picked up. Look, do you know someone who has won it more than me? No, so that gives you the answer. ‘We judge the season after the season and I’m quite amazed so many people judge it so early, you know.
“Assess the season after the season and we’ll give everything. We have not given up anywhere and you will see that in the coming weeks. I believe that this club has been in a much worse position than it is today.”
As far Premier league is concerned, they are a big eight-point trailing to leader Leicester City with six games in hand so they need to win at least five of the six games to take the crown they have been waiting for last ten years and with latest injuries Wenger job is getting more difficult per say.
