Injury Doubts Haunt Sides Ahead of Title Clash

Injury Doubts Haunt Sides Ahead of Title Clash Arsenal look to get their season back on track after the international break, having quickly squandered a lead against league newbies Leicester City in a 1-1 draw last time out (31st August). Manuel Pellegrini`s champions Manchester City are the team to visit the Emirates this weekend, they too suffering a setback prior to the break for the Euro 2016 Qualifiers, a 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke. Former Sky Blue Mame Biram Diouf scored the deciding goal for the Potters early in the second half.

Despite the home advantage and other factors in their favour, Betvictor have the Gunners as 2/1 outsiders for this weekend`s early 12:45 kick off (Draw 12/5, Manchester City 6/4).

New signing Danny Welbeck will be looking to make an impact on the game after a positive performance in the white of England. The £16 million transfer bagged both goals for Roy Hodgson`s men in the Three Lions 2-0 win over Group E qualification rivals Switzerland.

Welbeck is 7/1 (Betvictor, paddy Power) to find himself as first goalscorer and 40/17 (888sport) to score at any time. Arsene Wenger is still to wipe sweat from his brow, however, over Wales international Aaron Ramsey who faces fitness concerns after picking up an injury in Chris Coleman`s side`s 2-1 win over Andorra. In a post-match interview, the young midfielder blamed the Estadio National`s controversial artificial pitch for the knock, though dismissed the injury as being a twisted ankle.

`I`ll be alright,` The 23-year-old told the BBC. `The pitch was very hard. There`s no give in it so I rolled my ankle a bit. `Hopefully it will be nothing and I`ll be available for Saturday. These are the games you want to play in and I`m looking forward to it.`

An important player for the North London side, Ramsey scored the first goal in the club`s late comeback against Everton (23rd August). Both he and Olivier Giroud grabbed goals in the last ten minutes to seal a 2-2 draw against Roberto Martinez`s men.

Last season, the Welshmen scored 16 goals in all competitions despite a torrid time on the physio`s table. A troubling thigh injury picked up in their Boxing Day clash with West Ham saw Ramsey out for four months. This perhaps suggests that Wenger may err on the side of caution, not wanting to risk his 2013/14 Player of the Year again. Belgian Vincent Kompany is in doubt for the away team after playing the fully 90 minutes of his country`s 2-0 friendly win over Australia, despite picking up a calf tweak during a routine pre-match training session.

Should the influential centre half be deemed not to be fit, Pellegrini may select £32 million summer signing Eliaquim Mangala, who was expected to start as he is rotated with Martin Demichelis.

Also a doubt for City is potent striker Stevan Jovetic who, having already netted twice against Liverpool in the side`s 3-1 win, is struggling with a niggling hamstring problem. In the case that the Montenegrin is side-lined, super sub Edin Dzeko is the favourite to start, with Sergio Aguero still being nursed to full fitness.

Could Manchester City`s lightness up top and a potentially Ramsey-less Arsenal see the game fizzle out as a 0-0 draw? A plethora of bookmakers are offering odds of 12/1 on a pair of profligate strike forces.

Still we reckon that it might not be a repeat of the high scoring encounter we saw in the Community Shield, a goal either way deciding the winners of the three points. bet365 and Betvictor have 11/1 on Arsenal nicking the victory 1-0 with 9/1 at bet365, betfair, Betvictor, ladbrokes and Stan James for a 1-0 away win.

Go To bet365

#Ad

12/09/2014     © Frixo 2024