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Wenger Confirms Injury Blow But Arsenal Handed Ox + Gibbs Boost

By on March 24, 2014

It’s been a case of good-news, bad-news today with Arsene Wenger confirming that Laurent Koscielny has picked up a calf injury but Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will both be available to face Swansea on Tuesday night.

Koscienly was forced off at half time during Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing by Chelsea and the boss has confirmed reports that the Frenchman suffered a calf injury.

Kos underwent a scan today and the results haven’t been revealed yet, but there are rumours he could be out for two-to-three weeks, which means he’ll miss Saturday clash with Manchester City as well as next weekend’s game away at Everton, while he’d be in a race against time to face Wigan in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Wenger told Arsenal.com:

We have lost Laurent Koscielny for Tuesday’s game with a calf problem. I don’t know how long he will be out for. He has a scan today [Monday]. Everyone else should be available.

However, there has been some welcome positive news this afternoon after our two appeals were upheld by the Football Association. As expected, our appeal for the red card mistakenly shown to Gibbs on Saturday was rescinded and moved to the real culprit, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

But we also appealed the decision to show a red card for The Ox’s handball, as Eden Hazard’s shot was going wide meaning he didn’t technically prevent a goal-scoring opportunity. Somewhat surprisingly [surprising to me anyway], the FA have actually made a sensible decision and upheld this appeal as well meaning The Ox and Gibbs will both be available to play Swansea.

A statement from the FA read:

‘An Independent Regulatory Commission today heard two claims from Arsenal, one of mistaken identity and the other of wrongful dismissal, both in relation to Saturday’s game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

‘The commission ruled that the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs was a case of mistaken identity and transferred this to his team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

‘Subsequent to deciding this matter, the commission then considered Arsenal’s claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Oxlade-Chamberlain. This claim was upheld, meaning Oxlade-Chamberlain will not serve any suspension with the standard punishment withdrawn with immediate effect.’

With Koscielny out, Thomas Vermealen is expected to come in alongside Per Mertesacker but youngster Hector Bellerin has been drafted into the senior squad as defensive cover.

Lets hope we can bounce back with three points or things could get very messy for Wenger….

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