DEFENCELESS! SCORCHER SANCHEZ MAKES A SPLASH
Centre half final crisis for Arsenal
ARSENE WENGER is facing a defensive crisis going into the FA Cup final after revealing Shkodran Mustafi hasn’t trained since suffering a head injury. With Laurent Koscielny suspended and Gabriel out for up to eight weeks with knee-ligament damage, Wenger has a shortage of centre backs ahead of the Wembley showpiece.
Their only available centre halves are Rob Holding and Per Mertesacker, who has played 37 minutes of first-team football this season. Mustafi, who was at the club’s London Colney HQ yesterday, suffered the injury in the 2-0 win over Sunderland on May 16 and hasn’t trained since.
Wenger remains hopeful of calling on Mustafi for the match with Chelsea but given the protocol regarding head injuries, the Arsenal manager is awaiting the all clear from his medical team. Club captain Mertesacker — despite his lack of football — is on standby if Mustafi fails to prove his fitness.
And Mertesacker insists he is prepared to feature, saying: ‘I am ready to play 90 minutes? I can’t tell you.
‘I haven’t played this year. I’m used to doing this for 15 years so I expect myself to be absolutely ready no matter what comes. I owe this to this team and to this club. As simple as it seems, I want to make sure I am 100 per cent ready. My mindset is 120 minutes plus penalties.’
In better news for Wenger, full back Kieran Gibbs returned to training yesterday after a thigh injury and is expected to feature at Wembley.
Saturday’s final is set to see Alisher Usmanov begin a charm offensive in his effort to take control at the Emirates.
The Uzbek tycoon will be in attendance, which will only serve to enhance his growing shadow over the club. Usmanov has already seen a £1billion offer to buy out current majority shareholder Stan Kroenke rejected. Kroenke currently owns 67 per cent of the club, and Usmanov 30 per cent.
Kroenke, likewise, is expected to be at Wembley, which could see the pair come face to face for the first time since the takeover attempt.
A growing section of supporters want to see Usmanov replace Kroenke in the hope that he would invest in improving the firstteam squad. Holding on to striker Alexis Sanchez would be key.