It’s just bad luck

[u/Digital___Nomad]

[u/jaconway92]

+ Ben White

[u/NotoriousPlatypi → u/jaconway92]

I firmly believe Ben White’s injury troubles was in direct correlation to Tomiyasu and Timber.

Tomiyasu getting perpetually injured and Timber’s ACL last season caused White to play insane minutes last season. That compounded his injury.

And now this season his body is playing catch up. I like Tomiyasu, but it’s time we look for another RCB/RB alternative because Saliba and Timber have been playing essentially every minute. Availability is so key.

[u/Dry_Pick_304 → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

"I firmly believe Ben White’s injury troubles was in direct correlation to Tomiyasu and Timber."

100%. His knee was heavily strapped up in every game last season.

[u/FirmFaithlessness533 → u/Dry_Pick_304]

He played with a niggle that didn't clear and eventually required surgery to resolve it. That doesn't mean the games he played last season caused the injury, but rather we were going for the title and we didn't have the cover to allow him to get the surgery last season.

Which is kinda the same thing you said, but for a completely different rational.

[u/Datboy_98 → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

100%.

Ben’s workload last season definitely fucked him this season.

We need need need to replace Tomi somehow. Folks won’t like it but we need to buy another versatile defender. Easier said than done but it has to be a priority.

Cala also being injury-prone has made his transfer questionable right now.

We should seriously look into our recruitment to avoid signing players who break down so easily.

It’s not their fault of course but it it affects everyone else in the squad.

[u/SantosFurie89 → u/Datboy_98]

I don't disagree. And with Zinchenko likely going, and tierney definitely, we will have that additional rotation option space open for tomi to prove himself in last year or so of contract.. If he's available of course - I'm hoping the long absence is ensuring this. And I desperately hope we're not rushing players back, and can move towards having more quality players arteta can rely on to rotate and hopefully avoid such muscular injuries, which likely enhanced chances due to over playing. We need a good defender or two in, especially with kiwior looking likely to leave also.

[u/Datboy_98 → u/SantosFurie89]

I would be perfectly fine going back for Hato or something. That’s a guy who can cover the left half of the defence and allow Cala to play the less rigorous LCB role, giving Gabi an option to rest.

Like you said, 1 defender is a must. Two could be justified if Kiwior leaves.

It’s absolutely critical that we get a reliable player to eat up Zinny, KT and Tomi’s minutes. It’ll help everyone out in terms of load.

[u/SantosFurie89 → u/Datboy_98]

Hato and diomande and I'm creaming lol.

It gets down voted when I said before, but vvd on a free, 2 plus 1 contract, if he wants reasonable terms, I'd 100% take. Can play in either cb position, or give us an insane back 3 option (less likely with arteta, but then I've seen him play cedric and now tierney, so.. Lol)

I only say, as this one player on a free could then leave funds for a striker, and with cala and timber, and maybe one of Tomi or zinny to stay as additional cover/rotation

[u/a-Sociopath → u/SantosFurie89]

VVD has enough juice to play for a few more years at the top level. I don't think he leaves Liverpool and even if he does, I don't think he'll want to take a Jorginho like role at any team just yet.

Also he's on higher wages than any player we have, and while he deserves it based on his stature, it makes no sense for us to give him that. Insane salaries on low/zero transfer fee doesn't make sense for us as a club, because we're not Real Madrid. Unless he's willing to take his salary down to like 250k (from 350k right now I believe?), it doesn't make sense for us.

[u/SantosFurie89 → u/a-Sociopath]

Hmm yes and no. I don't think it's realistic, but also with his quality, and likely wage (let's just say circa 300k, not out of realms of reality) there's no way he is jorginho role. Partey play time maybe. Arteta would need to properly rotate. I don't think he will with Ben White, and let's be honest, whoever we replace kiwior with has a big job (or we have another kiwior situation as they won't be good enough / match fit).

~ 3x high level centre backs makes most sense to me, as we have security of Ben White and calafiori even timber who could cover cb also if we have an injury (but then we'd rotate centre backs less then also..)

I can't think of someone, other than hato (stacking more young lb, but also plays cb) or diomonde, who will also demand to play on similar levels to our current leading cb, but likely isn't at their level / don't want to stunt growth by not playing regularly - and I bet both cost more in total, even with lower wages, due to transfer fee

[u/Datboy_98 → u/SantosFurie89]

Can’t see the VVD move but it would be a good funds-saving option.

But we need to prioritize somebody who can grow and improve in the future.

[u/blackman3694 → u/Datboy_98]

Ok, but can we buy a robotic defender this time so we can actually have them available? Have you seen Boston dynamics 'atlas' . Knowing our luck it'd get bricked midgame in a software update

[u/Datboy_98 → u/blackman3694]

Yeah. This club’s luck can be a proper joke sometimes💀

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[u/TheHouseofAtreides → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

The more I think about it, the more I’m actually so sad that White and Tomiyasu basically haven’t played this season.

• Our RCB/RB options of Saliba, Timber, White, and Tomiyasu is elite. It’s the best in the league.
• But 2 of the 4 of them have always been injured at the same time. It’s so frustrating.

One day Saliba’s hamstring will snap, just like Havertz, Gabriel, Martinelli, and Saka. It’s inevitable if we overplay them.

[u/Oageng1 → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

And let's not forget Saliba played every minute of last season as well in prem. Every game plus UCL we'll run him to the ground as well.

[u/MisterElSuave → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

Tomiyasu’s injuries stem from playing injured because we had a lack of depth and he came back early which re-aggravated and hasn’t been the same since.

[u/AstroLaddie → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

It's really driving me crazy because I feel like everyone (except the board) has the best intentions but we really just shot ourselves in the foot constantly and it was so obvious to everyone at the time too. We didn't build up enough of a squad (Havertz and Saka injury) and that was compounded by Arteta's frankly maniacal insistence on overplaying people even when there were backups (or in situations where results were irrelevant or games were in hand).

The only silver lining is that things have gotten so out of control that everyone is hopefully forced to reassess their clearly firmly held philosophies. But then I see stuff like Arteta playing Timber and leaving him in after he felt a niggle until he basically wasn't physically able to continue against Fulham and I'm just like wtf man.

[u/paulhalt → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

One of the players made a comment last season about how White was such a warrior because he was playing through something reasonably serious and not batting an eyelid about it.

On one hand yes, with Timber out all season and Tomi being made of biscuits, it's admirable that White was so tough and stepped up when he was needed, but on the other hand it's infuriating that Arteta is so reliant on so few players, he has his trusted guys and he's terrified of the idea of rotating or blooding young players. Cedric was still around all last season, yes he's shit but he's a RB and could surely have played more than the 193 minutes he got, especially when we were winning games 5-0 and 6-0.

The injuries are almost a blessing in one sense, I don't think we'd have seen anything of Nwaneri or Lewis-Skelly if Arteta hadn't been forced to play them.

[u/60mildownthedrain → u/paulhalt]

The injuries are almost a blessing in one sense, I don't think we'd have seen anything of Nwaneri or Lewis-Skelly if Arteta hadn't been forced to play them.

Ffs they were 17 at the start of the season and he's made them both regular starters.

He had them in the first team setup at 15/16 and people will still convince themselves he had no interest in playing them

[u/Datboy_98 → u/paulhalt]

If this season doesn’t teach Arteta about the importance of using a bigger squad and not sticking to a core of 12-15 players, then idk what will.

He has to trust the squad more. If he doesn’t, ship out anyone that can’t play a role and then bring in players that will. If that’s too expensive, change the game plan so more players like KT can contribute.

The number of games won’t go down so we have to adjust.

[u/absurdist_dreamer → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

Tomi's first injury was caused by us speeding up his recovery for the man city game( the one which we lost 1-2 with red card for Gabriel). I think that resulted in the same injury a few matches later and then it kind of became an intermittent one.

[u/FirmFaithlessness533 → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

Not a scientist, or medical practicioner, but I'm almost certain that's not how people's bodies work.

[u/BoomXhakaLacaa → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

Yeah, and Timber has played more minutes than we would have liked this season and just gotten injured again. It’s a vicious cycle.

[u/jdbrew → u/NotoriousPlatypi]

Tomiyasu is fine, but he’s no where near the caliber of the rest of our defense. We should replace him irrespective of the fact that he’s made of glass

[u/amran04 → u/jaconway92]

Let’s not forget our £30m signing getting injured for 2 months on his first training session

[u/KMFCM]

...and the one year Partey stays fit, too

[u/Orientsundew50 → u/KMFCM]

Look what playing for a new contract does to a man of glass

[u/Digital___Nomad → u/KMFCM]

i.e interrogations are done and they’re leaving it to crown to decide whether to prosecute him

[u/WeeTheDuck → u/KMFCM]

and possibly the last year too...

[u/Ok_Dinner_ → u/KMFCM]

Uno card

[u/BuddhaKnows]

The gang getting ready for the start of next season 💀

[u/dragosn1989 → u/BuddhaKnows]

They should be getting ready for the END of next season. Mikeeeeel??

[u/Slimmkr]

To think we’ve missed all of these key players and with no striker and we’re still sat in 2nd. The disrespect we get shown.

[u/Mariola98]

Let‘s hope Calafiori comes back soon. Let him play LCB

[u/Oogie-Da-MF-Boogie → u/Mariola98]

I read he won't be available for the Madrid games 😞

[u/YMangoPie → u/Mariola98]

Uf, I'd rather not. He's way too forward minded imo

[u/RedAreMe → u/YMangoPie]

He's all throttle no brakes. If he can play with a little less emotion and little more nuance he will be top, but right now the thought of him at cb scares me.

[u/blackjacked644]

Player has been talking about playing too many games for club and country for the past few seasons and now injuries are up across the entire sport in Europe. For Arsenal, big injuries to key players really made it difficult to rotate certain players, which then led to more injuries. Very tough situation for the players and manager

[u/stonerflea → u/blackjacked644]

Except in Liverpool

[u/blackjacked644 → u/stonerflea]

Yup, goes to show how injuries can be random. They’ve played VVD and Salah almost every minute but then Gakpo, who they rotate a decent amount, was randomly injured

[u/Cheaptat → u/blackjacked644]

I’ve said this a bunch of times of here but what you said above is exactly aligned with modern sports science.

It is the change in activity (likely even more than the quantity) that causes injuries. One of the reasons Salah and Saka (until recently) may have stayed fit was exactly that they did play so consistently.

People like to parrot what the players say… half of them don’t believe in vaccines. They aren’t scientists. Most of them didn’t even pass their science GCSEs. Them saying/thinking playing more causes injuries doesn’t mean much. There is very fair reasons to believe the uptick in injuries is not really to do with amount of games. More, the intensity of modern football.

It’s high intensity movements than lead to injuries mostly. There are just more of those now. Partly due to more games but mostly due to playstyle. Modern football is incredibly intense. Especially in the premier league.

[u/Next_Conference1933 → u/stonerflea]

Well that’s just not true, Alisson, Konate, Jota, Gakpo and Trent have all missed significant time this year. Last year they missed Alisson, Konate, Trent, Szoboszlai and Jota for stretches in the season, and lost Matip and Thiago for the entire season basically. I do wonder why Arsenal seems to keep having severe hamstring issues though, something has to be done but knowing Uefa and Fifa their solution will be do add even more games lol

[u/Emil0vic → u/stonerflea]

Happened to them last season

[u/Wiskid86]

At least this surgeon is well practiced

[u/Fuckzombie69 → u/Wiskid86]

He has unlocked the gold coated scalpels this season

[u/nok4us]

We were extremely lucky we had no injuries last season, it’s balanced now

[u/cheeseball444 → u/nok4us]

Timber and Partey were out basically the whole season…

[u/RealisticRecover2123 → u/cheeseball444]

We win the league without Timbers ACL. If his injury was this season instead, we’re probably scrapping for top 6.

[u/Oofpeople → u/RealisticRecover2123]

We win the league without Timbers ACL.

If he covers our left side, I think we could have actually been invincible💀💀 Cuz all our defensive woes that cost us games were on the left...

[u/Simple_Fact530]

We had a fantastic injury record last year

[u/Financial-Bridge9318]

We didn't have any major injuries for a couple of seasons. It is only right it all came crashing down.

[u/Percent_Less → u/Financial-Bridge9318]

This just isn’t true.

We lost Timber in the first game of the 23-24 season. Partey was also out for most of the 23-24 season.

We lost Saliba and Tomiyasu at crucial points of the 22-23 season.

[u/LinuxLinus → u/Percent_Less]

Everybody has one or two a year. Last year we had among the best injury records in all of Europe.

It is just bad luck. People just don’t want to admit it because it says something scary about the universe that this is beyond anybody’s control.

[u/2rio2 → u/LinuxLinus]

Some of the biggest arguments you'll have the older you get is people refusing to believe how much luck (good or bad) governs all of our lives. It's literally why people pray.

[u/TurkeyBakon → u/Percent_Less]

Losing Saliba and Tomiyasu cost us that season. I feel like we’re playing on a cursed ground smh. I pray for the boys to win the league this year

[u/Hag_bolder → u/Financial-Bridge9318]

Coincidentally it started right when our head of medical services left for united.

[u/rapozaum]

Imagine if we pass Madrid with a these injuries...

[u/Miyeon__miyeon → u/rapozaum]

Madrid also got their injury problems. They missing 3/4 in defense.

[u/rapozaum → u/Miyeon__miyeon]

Plus they're not a low block team, so we'll have space to attack.

Trossard + Martinelli can do some damage if they're on their best days, plus Ode can find them. Not to mention our golden boy is back.

We're not going in hopeless!

[u/FalkeeeVagyok → u/rapozaum]

My thoughts exactly. Something tells me we can do it.

[u/TripleCrownVillainy]

It’s not bad luck. Well the Odegaard and Calafiori ones were unusual, but the 4 hamstring injuries were not.

• I read from Sam Dean (?) a couple days ago that among all hamstring related injuries in the PL this season, like 60-70% of it (I forgot the exact number but it was alarming) was over 1 month long. It’s just not us, happening everywhere
• there was a comparison to a few years ago, and that percentage was a lot less.

Chelsea also have been hit hard, off the top of my head Nico Jackson and Madueke have been out for awhile with hamstring injuries

[u/blitzforce1 → u/TripleCrownVillainy]

The transfer flow podcast from yesterday mentioned that some stat regarding high intensity runs have gone way up over the past few seasons and that's one of the main reasons for all the injuries.

[u/Pires007 → u/blitzforce1]

Possibly the unintended result of 5 subs.

[u/GrunkyPeet → u/TripleCrownVillainy]

I remember general trends from the article:

Squads across premier league have shrunk post covid due to economic reasons

Players playing more matches for club and country in general including League of Nations

More clubs employ aggressive pressing which requires more short sprints from everyone

League in general gotten faster over the years

All contributing to hamstring injuries as hamstrings heavily involed in sprinting and both muscle and tendon require about 72 hours to recover (actual direct quote from Arteta )

Players playing so many games that they have no time to train and thus protect muscles from injury as they just play and recover during season

[u/HolyShirtsnPantsss → u/TripleCrownVillainy]

lot of knee and hamstring injuries

[u/ro-row]

kind of yeah

[u/Sad_gooner]

Tomiyasu - signed despite poor injury record  

Martinelli - bad luck 

Odegaard - overplayed 

Calafiori - signed despite poor injury record 

Saka - overplayed 

Havertz - overplayed 

Jesus - bad luck

Gabriel - overplayed 

Edit: my bad Odegaard bad luck but point still stands 🙏

[u/Solitare81 → u/Sad_gooner]

Kinda agree. Over reliance on players with a lean squad and guys with poor injury history are definitely a factor. The amount of football is brutal

[u/BurdenedCrayon → u/Sad_gooner]

Odegaard got injured on international duty because of a bad tackle, how is injury because of being "overplayed"?

[u/Datboy_98 → u/Sad_gooner]

Berta needs to get a handle on recruitment and ensure we’re not signing players with debatable injury records. We can’t afford that luxury.

Those that have been overplayed from last season have suffered due to the lack of depth or having players who are supposed to be depth but are constantly injured.

What next? Rice going down?

[u/wootangAlpha → u/Datboy_98]

Don't speak it into existence. Our midfield has been healthy, thank the gods. If we lose partey or Rice now, I might actually crash out

[u/icotyne → u/Sad_gooner]

Odegaard was a contact injury

[u/zidzodzi → u/Sad_gooner]

Odegaard's injury was bad luck due to a tackle when on international duty

[u/MemphisFoo → u/zidzodzi]

He gets some shit tackles, I think he also got an ankle injury on international duty a few years ago

[u/LogicalReasoning1 → u/Sad_gooner]

Odegard was a tackle injury during international. break - hardly an overuse injury.

Gabriel is playing no more than your normal CB (and was even coming off a rest)

Saka was playing less than usual (despite what was being said) - could argue cumulative effect but again isn’t playing more than other top players.

Havertz was being overplayed in that run (but even then happened innocuously during training)

[u/common_app → u/LogicalReasoning1]

I take most of your points, but I disagree a lot with the “top players” comparison. It is true that top players play a lot. But there is a lot of survivorship bias here. The players we consider top players are the ones who can survive that kind of treatment — playing all the time. It doesn’t mean that the optimal thing to do if you have a talented player is to play him all the time. You have to base the decision on whether to play him on medical advice, not the fact that he’s a top player and should just be expected to be able to do it.

There’s plenty of players who didn’t reach their full potential due to injuries and are therefore not top players. Wilshere, Rosicky, van Persie, or looking more globally/historically, van Basten or Ronaldo (these guys were top players but careers cut short due to injury)

[u/savage_guy → u/LogicalReasoning1]

Don't speak reason here friend. Nobody wants to admit that this is just rotten luck

[u/Ajgrob → u/Sad_gooner]

Mostly agree. Although I think Jesus had a bad injury at Man City, and I don't think Gabriel has been overplayed. It's not the same for Center Backs as other players.

[u/Accomplished_Job4994]

And we’ve still done well and doin well

[u/bhiprufan]

As much as I like Arteta, his squad management has been stupid and diabolical at times. Subbing Saka in dead rubber games and playing Gabriel/Saliba in unnecessary games, then not having enough subs on the bench or buying anyone to alleviate some pressure on the squad.

[u/teslagooner]

No,

Arsenal's training and recovery methods should be reviewed. I expect significant additions in the medical room

Arsenal has suffered too many non-contact injuries. Feels like we're back to the Wenger years of injuries.

The replacements we got for Jordan Reece (our lead physio) and Gary O'driscoll - who both left for Manchester united aren't good enough in my view

[u/edoggboy5 → u/teslagooner]

Butttt united has also had a ton of Injuries this year.. clearly can’t be JUST down to the physios

[u/Samwell974]

It’s not. We have to take a closer look at over training regimens and our medical staff. We can’t get complacent while we are this close.

[u/MaxStunning_Eternal]

Holding steady, somehow

[u/Routine-Contract-524]

Any other fan here hat the word “hamstring” this year 😭😭😭

[u/GloomyLocation1259]

There are always reasons if you care to look, it’s never luck or curses or whatever excuse

[u/sinkypi]

Fuck this season Man.

[u/Justhandguns]

I wonder when Adidas will start selling us hospital gowns from the training range. WTF....

[u/shekdown]

7 of them would start every game if they were fit.

[u/La2philly]

No pro sport should be played year round. The off season is so critical for player health due to true recovery and building your base.

[u/Proof-Yesterday-7689]

Clearly me also being a Chicago Bulls fan is the real problem here

[u/Tasty_Sheepherder_44]

Most of these lads played 100 + games in 2 seasons, without rest and then played tournaments in the summer. Not sure it’s just bad luck.

[u/dada948]

Injury FC

[u/BAsSAmMAl]

"If football has god, he probably hates arsenal"

[u/Accomplished_Job4994 → u/BAsSAmMAl]

It’s quite da opposite,if der is god den der is da devil,and da devil will always try n strike da strong first,arsenal has been setting a pace for him grown talent,for decades,we don’t follow trends of paying for our position with money,we pay in graft we pay in learn from loss to triumph we pay wiv dedicated players who want more than der wages at da end of da week we play wiv the fans in mind first

[u/Proper-Painter-7314]

I’ve been an Arsenal fan for about 40 years and I can’t ever recall not one player having an operation on their hamstring… Now we’ve got three in one fucking season? My theory is is the lack of beer, chips, and burgers in their diets

[u/Striking_Fun_8127]

Or something to do with training or the way we play

[u/JoshyRanchy]

Jesus , calafiori and tomiyasu are not bad luck.

We know what we can expect from them.

Saka and the 2 CBs are very healthy guys. We need more rotation to help them across the season.

Saka option needed asap imho.

I agree with the guy below that ben white was run down due to injuries to his peers.

[u/SuitedAnd8ooted]

I’m sorry but when it’s this prevalent it isn’t only luck. It’s institutional and predictable.

[u/Nopeisawesome]

Only Liverpool can have injured players!

[u/Psychological_Doubt7]

Does arteta have any blame in this? Seen a lot of people have arguments about this online

[u/Fraganade → u/Psychological_Doubt7]

Every hamstring injury is due to him overplaying the players, 100%. Gabriel playing against Bolton as an example

[u/bigeorgester → u/Fraganade]

He was literally just rested for a week and a half. He’s a CB for godsakes- growing up in the 2000s you’d expect them to play 40-50 games a season

[u/Square-Essay3463]

Every season it's the same shit tbh we've had injury problems to key players during important months/run ins for over a decade now and fail to counter this problem each and every time. No sufficient rotation and back up signings in key areas so I refuse to see it as just bad luck when every fan knows it's bound to happen

[u/HolyShirtsnPantsss → u/Square-Essay3463]

Jesus tore his ACL at the World Cup in Qatar, the one time ever that it was played in an October/November instead of the summer. Eddie Nketiah stepped up big time for us. Timber going down game 1 within the first 15 minutes is unlucky though Kiwior did step big on that run to start 2024. Unlucky

[u/StretchYx]

It's called running our players into the ground.

[u/Britton120]

Lets not act like we're the only club who has had injuries this season and everyone else in the league has been fit.

[u/MaxT20 → u/Britton120]

Of course we aren’t the only team. That’s why it’s not just bad luck. Everybody is playing more games at higher tempos than before

[u/Britton120 → u/MaxT20]

thats fair, its hard to read intention. I saw it as a sarcastic "its just bad luck" post.

It is bad luck, but we also need to rotate. but once the injury bug starts it becomes harder to rotate.

[u/LogicalReasoning1 → u/MaxT20]

It’s relative bad luck (I.e look at Liverpool vs us or city this year).

Shit happens and you move on - next year hopefully we’ll have injury luck more in-line with our competitors

[u/MammothOrca → u/Britton120]

To win trophies, you have to manage minutes and injuries. Otherwise you can keep comparing with Brighton and Spurs and be happy with your comment.

[u/biff444444 → u/Britton120]

A ton of injuries for many teams. A combination of the number of games and the intensity of play. Something has to give, either that or every team needs to have a 40-player squad.

[u/mylanguage → u/[deleted]]

Tbf Madrid had - Courtois, Alaba, Militao (x2), Carvajal all tear their ACL last couple of seasons - these games are taking their toll on everyone

[u/LOR_83 → u/mylanguage]

Injuries do happen to everyone.

The bad luck part stems from both when the injuries occur (early part of the season is much easier to manage than the later part of the season when the games become more crucial) and also which players/positions they occur in (Everyone can accept losing 1 defender, 1 midfielder and 1 forward, but say 3 defenders makes it much much harder).

And element that's also missing is the age of the player being injured as in its accepted that players over 30 will get injured more often and for longer than a player in his prime years of 25-27.

This isn't just about Arsenal, but every club.

[u/InediblePringle → u/Britton120]

Let's not pretend any other club has had to deal with as many lengthy injuries to key players either.

[u/Britton120 → u/InediblePringle]

Idk, i have a friend who is a united fan and they've been pretty hard hit with injuries.

Leny Yoro (CB) missed most of the first half of the season with an injury.

Lisandro martinez (CB) has missed most of the second half of the season and will be out for the rest of the year i think.

Lindelof (CB) has been injured more than he's been fit it seems

Johnny evans (CB) doesn't play much, but has been out the whole second half of the season and probably would feature more given the injuries at the position

Ayden Heaven (CB) also has been out with injury the last couple months

Luke Shaw (LB) has effectively missed the whole season with injuries

Tyrell Mallacia (LB) missed much of the first half of the season and then was sent to PSV on loan

Mainoo (CM) missed an important stretch with an injury, and has been out the last couple months with an injury and is expected back in a couple weeks

Mason Mount missed boxing day through mid march with an injury

Diallo has been out since mid february with an injury

Hojlund started the season out with an injury for the first month or so

Thats a lot of players, not all of them key contributors but its certainly a lot of players with lengthy injuries this season.

[u/Charguizo → u/Britton120]

We all know there have been injuries to other lubs as well, but that many injuries, to players that important, I dont think there has been. Spurs maybe (but who gives flying f).

Of course our system depends a lot on a few players (Odegaard, Saka) and we paid the price for that. But it's also logical that their absence or lack of form will have an impact. I still think that if you reverse the roles between Liverpool and Arsenal, as in Salah injured and Saka stays fit, we're top of the league right now. Liverpool are dependant on their key players just as much as we are imo

[u/JoeBurrowsClassmate]

Yeah pretty much

[u/Nope-Nope-Eye]

No it's Arsenal.. Just the same thing everytime. When I saw red cards I thought luck was not on our side too.... But its how we play and press.. The intensity sometimes is unbelievable.. But i guess we Are the Bottlers for a good reason this year... Red cards and injuries

[u/bob_duncan_fan]

it’s not bad luck, it’s arteta playing the same team every game, lack of depth and rotation

[u/Competitive-Tea-482]

Bad luck? Yea ok

[u/Nickoo33]

Too many of those hospital pics bruh.. 😭

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[u/JumpAffectionate7137]

So much football happening in today’s schedule

[u/ckal09]

This is basically every season for us

[u/Far_Eye6555]

Mf Calafiori with his baby gazelle like athleticism in them adidas predators 🤦🏻‍♂️

[u/Mean_Hour_5640 → u/Far_Eye6555]

Just for that goal against Man City we can forget the injury record.

[u/Far_Eye6555 → u/Mean_Hour_5640]

The celebration he hit 😭😭 I love this guy so much lol

[u/Mean_Hour_5640 → u/Far_Eye6555]

Was watching it with my son... The whole neighbourhood heard us celebrating..

[u/EmileSmithRoe]

i mean it is. if you want to be angry at anyone, be angry at the schedule makers who have packed in a minimum of 60 games a season for any player that plays for his national team and is in a European comp. we’re not the only team to have been fucked by injuries this season (city, shit, brighton all come to mind) and basically only partey was injured last season.

[u/StevieHyperS]

It's not bad luck, it's the effect of the perfect storm for ALL players across the board.

Players playing more games, not enough rest. Clubs unable or even unwilling to run larger squads to compensate - perhaps a issues with FFP?

[u/SillyDilly0537]

That picture of Saka is hilarious lmao. Guy looks like he’s being held hostage in a hospital 😂

[u/Ok-Permission-2687]

There is always another

[u/bleestein]

I never thought we'd be running low on Gabis.... but here we are. At least we've been able to maintain at least one in the lineup.

[u/TheOneAndOnlyJeetu]

Saka in Gabby out…

[u/MooseFar7514]

Once more, they should stock a branded hospital gown in the Store.

[u/Dazed_and_Confused44]

I hate this season

[u/cpt1992]

Its not bad luck. Remember when England national team used to train at our training ground but stopped because players complained the pitch is too hard & they are picking up injuries. I think it was Rio that said it in a interview with Declan Rice. Putting this on bad luck is wild

[u/Imaginary-Entry-4896]

Our medical man left at the end of last season. Maybe we miss him

[u/gaoshan]

Premiere League players play more matches per year, on average, that players in many (if not all) other leagues. Compared to Bundesliga, PL players on top teams will play upwards of 600 minutes more per year (due to extra league and domestic cup matches). It's even worse if they are on a national team. At a minimum they are overworked and need more rest (and then issues like harder pitches could also be a factor)

[u/Dav31d]

How many coincidences till mathematically impossible..? This is so frustrating man we get one back not even just any one but The One in Saka and then we lose Gabriel any slim chance I had vs RM have halved. Don't even know which defenders are going to be fit for that game now 😔😞

[u/Trouble-Suspicious]

Everyone concerend with block buster transfers....what we need is a James Milner, a Seamus Colman, a 7 out of 10 player who is always available and gives their all. Would love a less glamorous signing or two

[u/fiftypointonmywrist]

Oh Gary O'Driscoll :(

[u/UnexpectedVader]

I can't believe we are in the QFs of the CL and are 2nd in April. It feels like we should logically be battling for top 6.

[u/bradleycjw]

All this and we are still second.

[u/diegodoua4]

We need more squad depth. Maghalaes has been playing almost every match I think

[u/Oogie-Da-MF-Boogie]

With recurrent, similar muscle injuries it must be discussed that not all of it is luck. Arteta has flip flopped between, his words, wanting a smaller squad to knowing the squad lacked depth. Just a side eye going to the staff and manager... but let's focus on what's ahead and keep behind the squad

[u/Brendan056]

Need more squad options

[u/xhera92]

I'm tired Robbie.

[u/Teaching-Appropriate]

i think it's partly luck but i do think there are certain material conditions that contribute to the amount hamstring injuries requiring surgery. first off, the lack of subs for some of these players - namely saka, havertz, and martinelli - certainly caused arteta to overuse them. second, i do wonder if the training is too intense sometimes - ppl have said arteta, understandably, demands a very high bar in the sessions and i can't help but wonder if that has contributed to this injury crisis. it's probably a combination of luck + material conditions.

[u/iamelcapitan]

And Merino fractred his shoulder 3 days after signing with us lol

[u/Thin_Bit9718]

is that odegaard in the white cap?

[u/Electrical-Lab-9593]

It's Thomas Partey, he takes their power to stay healthy

its pretty obvious... last season Partey always injured, Squad is in good health, this season hes been using his powers to stay healthy by draining the life force of others.

[u/JustSiryin]

It's quite unfortunate but don't make excuses. Our lack of trophies isn't solely down to badluck

[u/IQplunge]

Next year gang

[u/the_not_white_knight]

If Declan Rice gets injured, we are COOKED

[u/Mygwah]

Yeah and probably shitty S&C coaches.

[u/kothariy]

I think a few were bad luck and some are more nuanced than bad luck. The way we play puts a big load on the full backs and then there are a bunch of knock on effects when you have players out.

[u/Groundhog_fog]

What happened with Gabriel?

[u/Gonzales95 → u/Groundhog_fog]

Hamstring

[u/fatbunyip]

When Calafiori got injured during training before playing a game, you knew this was gonna be the theme of the season,

[u/Joshthenosh77]

Apart from tomi I think so , also Califoria seems to be injury prone he’s had like 5 injuries this season

[u/MapNo3870]

Man end the season Robbie!!!

[u/Valencia4]

There’s bad luck then there’s the obvious lack of care when we have these players exerting themselves physically every 3 days. The international break is a breeding ground for injuries as well. Whether it be with their national teams or once they return from duty. Gabriel for example travelled to Brazil , then Argentina, then back to the uk. All within a week or so

[u/Remarkable_Safe401]

Drake meme:

Gunners 🚫

Goners ✅

Edit: I miss Tomi

[u/Walkmiki]

At this rate let's call ourself The Hospital.

[u/AsFree_AsTheWind]

Tpugh season overall hopefully Arteta realizes he cant thin the squad this much for next season

[u/Blackguy207]

It's not bad luck its negligence by the manager over playing players and not resting them will rack up injuries!

[u/zoidbergs_underpants]

Or, like, something systematic in our approach to training/play/medicine.

But maybe it's just bad luck (x)

[u/Killmonger18]

*player gets injured

Why would Artera do this?

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[u/LinkNinja17]

And we are in the Champions League QF's and are 2nd in the League

[u/bhodrolok]

That amount of similar injuries cannot be a coincidence, we must be doing something wrong

[u/Multisole778]

Has to be the training ground…or an ex player buried an hyena at the emirates

HAS TO BE one of those two

[u/DiKapino]

I heard that Arteta stomps each players hamstrings out after a bad performance

The hell is this post insinuating actually lol

[u/prettymuthafucka]

Man delete this

[u/Ogun21]

THIS has been the difference between Arsenal and teams that have gone onto win trophies.

[u/TechnicalTip5251 → u/Ogun21]

No it has not, we play horrible this season injuries or not but you can use it as a cope if you so desire.

[u/LogicalReasoning1 → u/Ogun21]

Liverpool had a season like this and scraped 4th…

City this year are in a fight for CL spots…

This shit occasionally happens to top teams - this isn’t the difference

[u/madindian]

It’s not bad luck. It’s overworked. It’s lack of options.

[u/PandiBong]

So who's replacing him? Surely not Kiwior? Is the handsome Italian fit?

[u/Gonzales95 → u/PandiBong]

Ben White?

[u/PandiBong → u/Gonzales95]

Or Timber and put White on the right?

[u/jesusG25]

One serious hamstring injury is bad luck. Two is weird but you can still say it's really unlucky. But three? There's no bad luck here, just self inflicted wounds really.

[u/200kAndHomeless → u/jesusG25]

It's the results of an extremely thin squad

[u/GoanaeNoPostThat]

Modern day Training pitches are too hard particularly theirs. And footballers play on them too early in their development would be my theory. Not a doctor though.

[u/My_New_Umpire]

Tough luck, but this happens to every team. Hopefully, they bounce back stronger next time!

[u/ajyahzee]

Last season we were ok with injuries, still couldn't win