The walking wounded at Arsenal suggests change is needed
We have to assume that Arsenal’s poor injury record over the years has more to it than simply the misfortunate of buying injury-prone players. It also comes down to the idea we’re often led to believe that Arsene Wenger will continue to do things his way in spite of clear evidence that attempts to point him in another direction.
One of the most obvious cases is Abou Diaby and his recurring injury problems. It’s quite plain that much of his troubles over the years have stemmed from that injury suffered against Sunderland in 2006. Based on stories that have circulated in recent years, it’s led to complications with his growth, taking into account he was still only 20 at the time.
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The club aren’t oblivious to this, stating in 2010 that they were investigating the matter and that they possibly rush players back too early from injury. As I’ve pointed out before, it’s very difficult to isolate one problem from the club without it having an effect on something else. The club’s inability to add strength in depth has obviously led to the need to rush back players like Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna and countless others. It’s not a stick to beat the club with over their lack of spending; it’s just the way it is.
Arsenal like to keep their privacy as much as possible, so for that we’ll never get a good understanding of what goes on in training, bar a few picture updates on the club’s official website scattered throughout the season. Yet we are led to believe that Wenger overexerts the players in training, often playing out mini-games and forcing strain on the players’ muscles.
That’s one of the key points here: many of the players’ injuries have been muscle related. We’re so used to hearing that a player will be out for three weeks, with the obvious indication that it’s a strain or pull. Such is the regularity that it simply can’t amount to bad luck
There may also be a correlation in the rise of injuries to the departure of Gary Lewin in 2008 and the club’s replacement Colin Lewin taking over. Again, we’re not fed too much information on the credentials and input of the staff behind the scenes, but once more it surely isn’t a coincidence.
Regardless, this matter falls well within the borders of what Wenger needs to address in what could be his final year with the club. Other teams go through potentially damaging injury spells, but not to the extent of Arsenal. There is a drawback to using younger players so regularly in the way Arsenal do. Furthermore, Cesc Fabregas’ injury problems suddenly came to halt as soon as he made the switch to Barcelona. Pep Guardiola is notably meticulous in his backroom staff, so there is surely a lot to take from the different environment the player was working in.
But it’s an issue that the club can’t allow to continue. Sure, leg breaks happen and they’re well out of the club’s control. But taking action to maximise a squad’s contribtuon over the course of a campaign isn’t beyond them. It does take a level of ruthlessness on the manager’s part to simply say the staff aren’t good enough, but a club like Arsenal, who need to make the most of their resources, can’t afford to be charitable on the basis of long-standing camaraderie.
It just takes a little bit of planning and care for what has become the norm. The injury factor has battled against the club in previous years where a Premier League title was a possibility, with the most obvious being 2007-08. A big worry from this is that Wenger, with all the thought that he puts into his managing of the club, has done so little on the injury front. It seems as though, once again, the club are just covering their eyes and hoping the matter resolves itself. But a club as big as Arsenal simply can’t afford to neglect the idea of risk management.
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