Vermaelen's return pushed back further, as Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea
With their huge clash against Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League looming on the horizon, Arsenal will need their players to be in top form if they are to have any chance of breaking their poor record against the champions.
However Arsene Wenger has been dealt a severe blow ahead of his side's crucial encounter with Chelsea, with the news that key defender Thomas Vermaelen will not be fit in time for the game. Vermaelen has been out of the squad since August, after suffering
an injury to his Achilles tendon.
Wenger has confirmed that the Belgian international will not be returning to action at least until mid-January, saying, “I would rather say late January. He is short on fitness and we have to build it up. That will take three to four weeks. He has started
now and the signs are good. But I have been hit so many times with backlash that I am very cautious with Vermaelen."
Arsenal have struggled in defence during Vermaelen’s absence, conceding goals on a regular basis. The Gunners have kept only four clean sheets so far this season. Meanwhile, goalkeeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lukasz-Fabianski-c22910 has been deemed fit to play in Monday’s match against
Chelsea. Wenger has chosen to start Fabianski against the Blues, despite Wojciech Szczesny’s assured display against Manchester United in their last game.
The move should not come as a surprise, since Fabianski is more experienced than Szczesny in the Premier League. Midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Abou-Diaby-c3453 has also returned to the side, after being sidelined for two months due to an ankle injury. Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van
Persie will almost surely be in the starting eleven against Chelsea. The two players came on late in the match against Manchester United, but failed to make an impact.
Despite the notable absence of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 when they visit the Emirates later this week. The Arsenal manager said, “We have everybody back. We had them in the squad for Stoke:
Diaby, Fabregas, Van Persie - Fabianski too. They have had one more week to prepare for this game and build up their fitness. That will have helped them of course.”
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