Arsenal’s injuries in the early part of the season have been well documented, and it does not take a microscope to see how serious the injury crisis has hit the club since the season commenced in August. However, the players that have been injured are known to all (Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Yaya Sanogo, Mesut Ozil, Mathieu Debuchy, Oliver Giroud and Theo Walcott) yet one player that was conspicuous by his absence on Sunday in the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was David Ospina. The Colombian goalkeeper was not on the bench at the Bridge and there are speculations that he may have injured his thigh once again.
The 25 year old joined Arsenal in July with the same thigh complaint. And he could not play a part in pre season, and missed the first couple of games when the season started, he only joined the fold after the last international break after he returned from his thigh injury sustained while playing at the World Cup in Brazil.
He subsequently made his first appearance of the season in the Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton at the Emirates in September, and made his Champions League debut against Galatasaray after Wojciech Szczesny was sent off.
If he is confirmed to be out for a number of weeks, it creates another injury issues for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger going into match day three of the Champions League against Anderlecht as Wojciech Szczesny would have to sit out that match in Brussels following his sending off on match day two. It means Damian Martinez would have to come in for the Colombian while one of the youth goalkeepers would be promoted to the bench ahead of that trip.
However, there is still at least another two weeks before there is a definitive statement from Arsene Wenger who is expected gives his usual injury updates after the international break on whether David Ospina is still being troubled by his thigh injury.
The respite on the injury front have not come Arsenal’s way this season as players keep succumbing to injuries likes leaves falling off a tree in the Autumn. After last season where several of the club’s attacking players were all out injured at the same time, few thought it would not get any worse. But the season is just in it third month, yet it has surpassed the record from last season, where three players are already long term casualties on the injury list.
Many Arsenal faithful would be holding their breath that David Ospina does not join the list of injuries in view of the inexperienced options available in the pecking order after the Colombian.