By Mark Finlay
As Arsenal prepare themselves for the season opener against Aston Villa on Saturday the news from the training ground is not good with midfielder Mikel Arteta being side-lined for six weeks after suffering a torn quadriceps in training.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta is set to miss the first six weeks of the season after sustaining a torn quadricep.
The injury means that Arteta will be unavailable for the vital Champions League qualification double header against Fenerbahce as well as the first month of the Premiership.
‘Last year, this squad wasn’t good enough to challenge for the league,’ Arteta was quotes as saying in The Sun.
‘We suffered a lot of injuries in the last few years and couldn’t always put out a consistent team for 10 or 15 games in a row.
‘I am convinced there will be signings this summer. We already have a very strong team – and if we get new faces they will be welcome.”
Arsenal will also be without Thomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal and Abou Diaby, while Bacary Sagna is nursing an ankle injury he picked up while on international duty with France.
Arteta’s injury comes as a blow for the Gunners who have been desperately trying to buy new players, yet failing at every attempt.
I hate to say it but should Arsenal get off to a bad start and lose to Fenerbahce the fans wrath will turn on Wenger who despite having the money available has so far failed to sign a player this summer.
Below you can read what Wenger had to say about the transfer market, and am sure Wenger is getting his famous value in the market speech ready for when Arsenal fail to make any big name signings.
We are active. We are in a situation like Manchester United, like Chelsea, where everybody expects signings and at the moment not a lot has happened. There are 18 days to go, so that is a long time in the transfer market and we will be active.I cannot certify what the number [of players coming in will be] but we will be active until the end, that is for sure.
