Na serious injury wahala Arsenal dey face dis international break period. As we dey talk now, about 12 players wey dey for Arsenal squad don get one injury or dey under medical watch. The latest na Piero Hincapie wey just withdraw from Ecuador national team after medical tests show say something no dey correct.
nn
Hincapie play for Ecuador against Morocco for 72 minutes on Friday before dem substitute am. But by Monday, Ecuador Football Federation don announce say the left-back don return to London Colney for recovery. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta dey look this one with serious eye as FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton dey come for April 4.
nn
This Hincapie matter no be the only one wey dey worry Arsenal. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, the two main centre-backs wey dey hold Arsenal defence, don withdraw from France and Brazil squads respectively. Saliba get ankle problem wey dem say need at least ten days rest. Gabriel get knee pain wey make Brazil FA release am.
nn
England camp sef don release three Arsenal players. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka return to Arsenal for “medical assessment” without playing any minute for England. Noni Madueke sef leave Wembley with knee brace after England draw with Uruguay. The winger don return to club for treatment.
nn
Other players wey dey on the treatment table include Eberechi Eze (calf injury, fit miss 4-6 weeks), Jurrien Timber (still recovering from injury), Leandro Trossard (hip problem), Martin Zubimendi (knee discomfort), and Martin Odegaard (knee issue wey make am miss Carabao Cup final). Mikel Merino sef dey on crutches with ankle injury.
nn
Arsenal fans dey look this injury list with fear. The team still dey lead Premier League with nine points ahead of Manchester City, but City get game wey dem never play. Pep Guardiola team get only Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol as injured players. The difference clear.
nn
Some people dey talk say Arsenal dey protect their players from international duty. But injury expert Stephen Smith from Kitman Labs talk say clubs and national teams dey work together now. “Players dey more educated about their bodies,” Smith yarn. “Dem fit pick phone talk to coaches say ‘this na where I dey, this na the support I need.'”
nn
Arsenal don suffer from international break injuries before. Gabriel miss 10 games after injury for Brazil friendly for November. Saliba sef don miss matches against Nottingham Forest and Brighton this season because of ankle issues wey dem dey manage.
nn
For now, Arsenal medical team dey work round the clock. The FA Cup match against Southampton dey come quick quick. Then Premier League title race with Manchester City dey continue. Arteta need many of these players to return fast fast.
nn
International break suppose be time for players to rest or play for their countries. But for Arsenal case, na like more problems dey come. Fans dey wait to see how many players fit return for Southampton match. The treatment room for London Colney full like hospital ward.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
