What Was The Cost Of This International Break?

Thank the footballing Gods that that’s over (for a month at least), the players will make their way back from international duty over the next day or so in their various states of disrepair, and we can start looking forward to Bolton this weekend.

Sagna, Clichy, Diaby, Rosicky and Arshavin all played 90 minutes last night (Clichy set up France’s first goal against Bosnia), Cesc also started in Spain’s 4-1 defeat in Argentina, and Wilshere came off the bench to inspire a 3-0 win for the England Under-21s that sealed qualification for the U21 Euro Championships.  Carlos Vela only made a short cameo for Mexico, report here.

The only casualty that I’m definitely aware of so far is Walcott, who only managed 10 minutes last night in Switzerland, creating England’s first goal for Rooney, and getting a knock on the ankle in the process.  He was stretchered off, and although I didn’t watch the game, in the pictures I’ve seen he doesn’t look overly worried about the ankle.  Capello confirmed that it doesn’t look too serious, no precious little bones broken or tendons snapped just bad bruising on the ankle.  It might be a week before he can run on it comfortably so he’ll miss Bolton, and be doubtful for Braga I’d expect.

You just hope it won’t be long enough a break to halt the momentum that he was building at the start of this season, it would be so frustrating to see another year of his career written off due to injuries.  In the meantime though his place in the team can be filled by Eboue, maybe Wilshere on the right, or the returning Nasri.  We have a wealth of options throughout midfield and the wide positions, so while Theo’s injury is a setback it is not a worry just yet.

More worrying is the news that van Persie’s injury from the Blackburn game will likely keep him out until the middle of October, meaning he will miss two Champions League games, and a bunch in the league including our next big test against Chelsea.  With Bendtner’s injury situation about as clear as Wayne Rooney’s conscience, it looks like we could be facing the next month at least with Chamakh as our only fit central striker.  Without the Moroccan we’d be back to Arshavin playing through the middle again; clear evidence that this squad is stronger then it was last season.  None the less it is a disturbing set of circumstances because if we lose Chamakh now for any length of time we could be royally screwed.

The reserves also had a match last night, which was a chance for Sebastien Squillaci to don an Arsenal shirt for the first time.  He played alongside Johan Djourou in central defence, in front of Fabianski, and behind Denilson as the defensive midfielder.  Despite those four first-teamers at the back though we conceded three against Blackburn reserves in a 4-3 win.  Hardly encouraging stuff, but they are all just looking to get games under thier belts and hopefully this will have helped.

That’s all folks, just easing myself back in to this blogging lark after the interlull.  Bolton preview on Friday.