?Arsenal manager Freddie Ljungberg has confessed he is struggling to cope with the Gunners’ recent injury issues, with no less than six first-team stars now on the sidelines.
Héctor Bellerín and Kieran Tierney became the two latest casualties in the 3-1 win over West Ham on Monday. Bellerín did not make it into the game after picking up a hamstring injury in the warm-up, while Tierney dislocated his shoulder during the match and had to be replaced.
Speaking ahead of his side’s meeting with Standard Liège on Thursday (via ?The Independent), Ljungberg admitted his squad has been stretched by all the absences, but he is refusing to dwell on the situation.
“Of course, it’s not good,” he said. “We got one in the warm-up at ?West Ham, another full-back in the game. It’s one of those freak things. We can’t do much about it, obviously it puts a strain on the squad but that’s how it is.”
?football.london have also provided updates on all of ?Arsenal’s injured stars. Beginning with Bellerín, the Spaniard is likely to miss Thursday’s meeting with Standard in the hope of facing ?Manchester City on Sunday, but will still need to be assessed before then.
Tierney will certainly miss both games and could be out for around three months as a result of his shoulder injury, so expect ?Sead Kolasinac to retain his place in the team.
Next up is midfielder Dani Ceballos, who has been missing since October with a hamstring injury. The ?Real Madrid loanee is expected to return to training in the coming days, but match fitness will likely force him to sit out a few more games.
Fellow midfielder Granit Xhaka will also miss the games against Standard and City after picking up a minor concussion against West Ham, but he should be fit and ready to go after that.
Alongside Xhaka on the sidelines will be record signing Nicolas Pépé. The winger picked up a bruised knee against West Ham and is set to be rested against Standard as a result, and he will face a late fitness test ahead of the City clash.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Gunners, as centre back ?Rob Holding is likely to return. He missed the last game with his own bruised knee, but there is a confidence that he is already ready to return to action.
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