Arsenal
have suffered a significant blow to their hopes of winning domestic
silverware when Mesut Özil was ruled out for at least three weeks with a
potentially serious hamstring injury.
Özil limped off at half-time of the 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich and,
although there will be a further scan on Wednesday, Arsenal fear that they
will be without their club record signing for the most pivotal period of the
season.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, confirmed that Özil will definitely miss
Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur and probably the
defining Premier
League matches against Chelsea, Swansea City and Manchester City.
The Germany international is also a doubt for Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final
against Wigan Athletic on April 12.
Özil was assessed at half-time by Arsenal’s medical staff, as well as Germany
and Bayern Munich doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller Wohlfahrt. He then travelled
back to London with the rest of the Arsenal team.
“He has a hamstring problem that looks quite serious,” said Wenger. “For sure,
he is out against Tottenham. We have to make a scan to see how bad it is but
he is out at least for a few weeks.”
The injury to Özil follows the loss last week of Jack Wilshere, who suffered a hairline fracture to his foot while on England duty. Theo Walcott is also out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury, while Yaya Sanogo, Kieran Gibbs and Nicklas Bendtner were all missing last night with respective foot, ankle and knee injuries. Aaron Ramsey is at least progressing well and does hope to return to the squad that faces Tottenham on Sunday.
After a fourth consecutive exit at the last 16 stage of the Champions League
Despite an apparently heated exchange between Tomas Rosicky and Lukas Podolski, he did praise his team’s character and claimed that Bayern were weaker than last season.
“Spirit-wise we gave everything until the end,” said Wenger. “Good luck to Bayern. They are a good side but I think they were more vulnerable this season than last year. I felt Bayern was very vulnerable defensively and that we didn’t take advantage of that. You could see they became suddenly nervous. They are a great side with great players but we still have regrets over the two games.
“The great regret we have is that in the last five years we played twice Barcelona and twice Bayern and every time when the teams are at the top of their game. I must say, in the last two years we were done very harsh.”
Arsenal were embarrassed shortly before the match when it emerged that Ryo Miyaichi, who had flown out as part of their 18-man squad, was actually ineligible and had to be removed from the substitutes bench. It left Arsenal with only six rather than seven substitutes
