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Silvestre injury piles on the worries for Wenger
6 Nov 2008Arsene Wenger is today awaiting a report from his medical team to determine if Mikael Silvestre will be fit to face his former club Manchester United on Saturday.
The 31-year-old defender came off with a suspected broken nose during the second half of Arsenal's goalless draw with Fenerbahce at Emirates Stadium last night.
Should the Frenchman be ruled out, it will put added pressure on captain William Gallas to return from the hamstring injury that has forced him to miss the last two matches against Stoke and Tottenham.
Full-back Bacary Sagna is almost certain to have recovered from an ankle problem after not being risked last night.
But Gunners boss Wenger could have only Kolo Toure and the relatively-inexperienced pair Johan Djourou and Alex Song fit to play at centre-half if both Gallas and Silvestre are unavailable. Things look stretched elsewhere with Emmanuel Eboue sidelined with a knee problem and Theo Walcott struggling to return due to a damaged shoulder.
Emmanuel Adebayor is missing with an ankle injury and as Robin van Persie is suspended, Nicklas Bendtner is set to lead the attack. The 20-year-old Dane remains unfazed by the prospect in what is arguably the biggest game of his career.
He said: "I always feel confident. I'll play to my strength and the team will play as a unit. If we all play well that should be enough.
"If I can score and help us win the game then I'll be very happy.
"If I play well and someone else scores I'll also be happy. We'll try to win it like we always do. We believe we can beat anyone with the players that we have available."
Reader views (7)
Nearly 50 years of mediocrity in the shadow of the gunners, must be desperate.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 06/11/2008 16:12
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Eh Rob, what gives you the impression that I support Tottenham?
The cards are on the table for you, Rob. You're players are dropping like flies as you seem to lack any heart and substance, you're manager is doing what he does best - whinge, you have got Man United, Villa, City and Chelsea all coming up, a daunting task to say the least with your players current mindset.
Mind, if I could see what was in store for me, supporting Tottenham would seem more impressionable. Just like that guy Rob Hotspur does.
- Rob Goner, London 'innit', 06/11/2008 15:55
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What a constructive comment from ROB THE DONUT AGAIN,perhaps he is hiding the fact the Gooners are struggling big time,and rumours of discontent are coming to the surface,a fact backed by tens of gooners on the radio,the team has no bottle,wenger is a bling mug who blames anyone and everything bar his team when things go wrong,i bet you any money pal you wont win a trophy this year again,but if thats what your happy with..carry on..as clearly many a gooner are not...pretty footy and no prizes...and no guts...put your dummy back in along with wengers
- Phil, croxley, 06/11/2008 15:44
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4th in the premiership, top of our champions league group, still in the Carling (losers) cup. Beats bottom of the Premiership, bottom of the UEFA (losers) cup & Liverpool at home in the Carlin (losers) cup.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 06/11/2008 15:02
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Another nail in the coffin for Arsenal, can Arsenal's season get any worse?
I hope so...
This season keeps getting better.
- Rob Goner, London 'innit', 06/11/2008 14:22
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Rob I think you just might see come saturday that refs will start to look to the challenges against our players Hope so
- Jaberwokie3, switzerland, 06/11/2008 14:14
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Another foul challenge resulting in an Arsenal player being injured. Will anything be done about it? I doubt it.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 06/11/2008 09:50
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