English Premier League club Arsenal has halted its streak of three straight losses with a 2-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday at the Emirates stadium. The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has blamed the injury crisis for such a poor show in the Premier League during the past few weeks.
Even the win on Saturday came at a price. A staggering five players of the Arsenal team picked up injuries during the game! William Gallas (hamstring), Emmanuel Eboue (muscle), Armand Traore (hamstring), Andrey Arshavin (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (groin) were the players who could not end the game in the state they started in.
Perhaps the Czech Republic midfielder Rosicky's injury was the cruelest of all. Even before the season began, the 29-year old had spent previous eight months sidelined with a knee injury. Arsene Wenger will now have to do without the Cech player.
On the fact that Arsenal players have so far proved more injury-prone than other Premier League clubs, Wenger said: "We pick up more injuries than the other big teams, that is true. You cannot say there is not a reason for it but we have not found it yet." He also said: "It's the worst season for injuries for us. And they are all in the same area - in the offensive side. Last year it was in the defensive side."
Arsenal have so far scored the most goals by a side this season. It remains to be seen however whether they are able to challenge the might of Chelsea at the top of the table or not.
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