More injury worries for Wenger and Arsenal

Arsene Wenger will take stock of Arsenal’s mounting injury problems after the FA Cup holders’ progress to the quarter-finals came at a cost.

Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista were all substituted during the comfortable 4-0 victory at Championship side Hull City that stretched the Gunners’ three-year unbeaten record in the competition. 


Retaining the FA Cup for a third season looks to be Arsenal’s best hope of silverware in a season where Wenger has again come under attack for his side’s failings in their efforts to win the Premier League for the first time in 12 years.

 They trail surprise leaders Leicester City by eight points, and face elimination from the Champions League going into next week’s return leg against Barcelona, where they trail the last 16 tie 2-0 from the first meeting at the Emirates Stadium last month.

 Arsenal host Premier League rivals Watford on Sunday to contest a place in the last four of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium in April.

But Wenger (pictured) admits he first faces a head count after the latest unwanted additions to an injury list that was into double figures before his side strolled to an easy win at the KC Stadium, with the likes of Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla already ruled out. 

Deflecting questions over a banner unfurled among the 2,500 travelling Arsenal supporters, which read ‘thanks for the memories Arsene, but it’s time to go’, the Frenchman said: “The injuries came as a shock. Mertesacker is just a cut on his eye and Gabriel is a thigh problem which should hopefully be fine. Ramsey has a thigh problem.”