Okay Arsenal fans, time to give you some good news.
First, five of your heavy hitters were fit enough to train today and are expected to be ready for Wednesday’s Champions League play-off first-leg against Fenerbahce.
Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs all got a run out on Tuesday and are slated to be fit to play in Istanbul.
Wilshere managed to make it through Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Aston Villa without aggravating a myriad of niggly injuries, Ramsey and Rosicky have recovered from knocks, Sagna has emerged unscathed after landing on his neck and Gibbs is good to go after suffering a nasty cut over his eye.
The only bad news, which was known this weekend, is that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain faces a prolonged stint on the sidelines after suffering a potentially serious knee injury on Saturday. He is set to undergo a second scan later in the week.
The second piece of good news for the Gunners is that Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye is interested in a move to the Emirates. The Frenchman was held out of Monday’s contest at Manchester City after Arsenal’s bid frustrated Magpies manager Alan Pardew. As it turns out, his frustration was based on Cabaye reportedly fancying a move to North London.
Whether Cabaye is a player that Arsenal truly need, however, is a whole other issue.
The Gunners spent the summer searching for a world-class striker to boost the ranks, looking to bring in the likes of Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain. Arsene Wenger’s side also made a push for Luis Gustavo, who would have provided a boost to Arsenal’s defensive midfield or back four.
In Cabaye, the Gunners would have a box-to-box midfielder who possesses elements of creativity but is arguably not the playmaker to link the midfield to the front line. Regardless, the 27 year old appears keen on a move to the Emirates and given the recent outrage Wenger has experienced from fans, any new blood is good blood.