SPORTS::Wenger Blames Brazil 2014 World Cup For His Players’ Injury

Arsene Wenger has attributed the woes that seem threaten the chances of Arsenal maintaining the top four position this season, to the just-concluded World Cup on Brazil. Gunners’ head coach had said on Friday, October 17, 2014 that the reason why about 10 of his players suffered injuries since August is as a result of the world Cup games, citing one of the World Cup winner, Mesut Ozil who will be out of EPL for up to three months with a collateral ligament tear in his left knee. French striker, Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy are also down with injuries that may keep them out till January, but Wenger is hopeful that these two gets a medical clearance for fitness on time. Wenger claimed he gave the players enough time to rest after the world but their injury make things worse for him “There are a lot of post-World Cup injuries and not many soft tissue injuries,” Wenger told reporters. “I gave those who played at the World Cup until Monday, August 11, 2014. Germany played the final on Sunday, July 13, 2014.That was a month, and should be enough after a big competition. “For example, Giroud – I don’t know what we can do about Giroud’s injury. Debuchy was on his own when he did the ankle. “Then you have Ozil. You know how Ozil did the injury? Passing the ball with the outside of his left foot. He must have done that a million times. He just wanted to give the ball like that and heard a little crack. Speaking on how Arsenal intends to manage the injury crisis, Wenger said, “I think we have made progress. What’s different is we have a bit more prevention than before for the players to prepare. For us this season, we had big injuries and coincidental injuries.” “Koscielny has an Achilles problem, which has got worse. He finds it difficult to play at the moment. You can only trust what the players says, he does not feel ready to play and will not play on Saturday,” he stated. Wenger stated further that Koscielny will be monitored until he can take enough pain again, assuring that he will not need surgery. “We have scanned him; there is no deterioration of his achilles at all. It is just the inflammation,” he added.