Arsenal Facing Yet Another Injury Crisis

Arsenal are facing yet another injury crisis ahead of this weekend's crunch match with Manchester United after scans revealed that Emmanuel Adebayor will be out of action for three weeks.


With Robin Van Persie suspended for three matches following his dismissal at Stoke and Eduardo yet to return to competitive action, Adebayor's unavailability leaves Nicklas Bendtner as the only established striker available to Arsene Wenger on Saturday.


In selecting a partner for the Dane, Wenger's options have been reduced to Carlos Vela, who has made just one Carling Cup start, Abou Diaby, or redeploying Theo Walcott centrally - although the winger remains another injury doubt after being carried off against Stoke.

Walcott and Adebayor will both miss tonight's Champions League tie against Fenerbahce, as will skipper William Gallas and Walcott's deputy Emmanuel Eboue. Van Persie, eligible for European competition, is likely to start alongside Bendtner, although Wenger might be tempted to experiment with pairing the 20-year-old with either Vela or Diaby in preparation for the visit of United.


The Arsenal manager remains livid about the cause of Adebayor's Achilles injury, with the forward hacked from behind by Ryan Shawcross with the ball already out of play.


Wenger's accusation that Stoke deliberately injured his players - Bacary Sagna was also forced off after a foul from behind by Rory Delap but returned to training on Monday - is thought to have in part been provoked by Thomas Sorenson's claim that Arsenal "lacked spine".


"Then you read in the newspapers our players are cowards, they do not like it, they do not fancy it. We are kicked and on top of that we are cowards," fumed Wenger.


Sorensen boasted after the match that he provoked Van Persie into barging him, a claim that also enraged Wenger.


"Have you seen in slow motion where Van Persie touched him?" Wenger said. "Here [indicating his chest]. He acted like he's two months in hospital. He's one of those who talks a lot."
(football365.com)