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Arsenal boost: Man Utd dealt major double injury blow ahead of Gunners clash

By mac14 on September 27, 2019

Arsenal have been handed a boost ahead of Monday’s trip to Manchester United as Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are major doubts for the game at Old Trafford.

United have been dealing with their fair share of injuries in recent games but as always seems to be the way, I expected the likes of Pogba and Martial to be back in contention when Arsenal come to town.

Pogba made his return from a three-match absence with a 90-minute run out during United’s penalty shoot-out win over Rochdale on Wednesday night so it looked like he was back to face us.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed today that Pogba aggravated his ankle injury in the League Cup game and is now a major doubt for Arsenal’s visit to Old Trafford.

Martial is also taking longer than expected to overcome a thigh injury that’s kept him out in recent weeks and Solskjaer says the attacker will miss the Arsenal game as he’s not due to return until after the upcoming international break.

Man Utd will also be without Phil Jones on Monday night after he suffered a knock against Rochdale but Luke Shaw could return after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Solskjaer told ManUtd.com today:

“Any injuries? There might be one or two who have not really come back. Paul was really struggling with his ankle as it was really swollen, so let’s see how that repairs. He got 90 minutes but was sore towards the end again.

”Phil will be out until after the international break and, do you know, you have to count these after every game but I think that’s it.

“I don’t think we’ll see Anthony before the international break. No, I don’t think so. Luke is improving so, hopefully, we’ll see him.”

Obviously it will be a big boost to Arsenal if Pogba and Martial are unavailable as it means United will be without two of their key players. With Marcus Rashford also struggling with a groin injury, Solskjaer may be forced to start 17-year-old Mason Greenwood up front.

Ordinarily that would be great news for Arsenal but knowing our luck at Old Trafford, we should expect Greenwood to have the game of his life and score a hat-trick on Monday night!

United have injuries in other areas too as Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot, Angel Gomes and Tim Fosu-Mensah will all be unavailable. However, we’ve faced severally under strength Man Utd sides in the past and still struggled so let’s not get too over confident.

As for Arsenal, our squad is actually in good health as Alexandre Lacazette is our only significant absentee as the Frenchman is still trying to overcome an ankle injury that’s going to keep him out until some point next month.

Rob Holding is back in contention after coming through 90 minutes in midweek while Kieran Tierney could also make his league debut after getting 77 minutes under his belt in midweek.

Hector Bellerin also made his first appearance of the season off the bench late on against Forest but I don’t think he’ll start at United as he’s only played 15 minutes of first team football in 9 months.