The weekend’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City provided casualties in the way of Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla, adding to the already missing Francis Coquelin, who was cut down the weekend prior at West Bromwich Albion.
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Arsenal have not yet established the likely durations of Sanchez and Cazorla’s absences, but Wenger is hopeful that Koscielny will be able to line up in Saturday’s home game with Sunderland.
The diminutive Spaniard limped off during the match against Norwich City after playing the full 90 minutes in spite of injuring himself at the start of the second half.
“Cazorla, we won’t know until he has seen the specialist”, Wenger said.
We have tests. We have medical tests. If we had him and with Danny Welbeck fit again, Wenger would have two players with lightning pace and great movement in Aubameyang and Walcott and two players with strength, aerial ability and hold up play. I’m not a coach, I don’t know how it is with all the pressure of players – I know I was a pain in the neck when you take me out in the game. It was not an obvious mistake.
“No-one suggested he could injure a hamstring or back when he was pushed into a camera [pit]”.
And Wenger feels not enough was made of the incident as Sanchez had to be helped out of the area following the incident.
The Gunners boss was pressed on Sanchez and Cazorla, but claims he is still in the dark over when the duo will return. When he was pushed into the boards on the side of the field that did not shock anybody.
Despite his comments, Wenger could come under pressure from supporters to recruit during the January transfer market with his squad rocked by injuries. We need to push ourselves a bit more and play better football if we want to be at the top of the league. I had a chat with Sanchez after the game.
“It may be that they are encouraged to behave in a certain way in certain situations that makes them more prone to injuries during the game”.
“It is possible”, Wenger said when asked about reports the 30-year-old being sidelined until March.
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“Cazorla [is seeing a specialist] and is possibly out until March”, said the Frenchman in his pre-Sunderland press conference.
