The first league visit of Ipswich to the Emirates was not one they or most of the sixty thousand spectators will remember with any fondness. Even as an eye witness I am starting to find the game fading in my memory but the important facts are that Arsenal beat Ipswich and moved into second place in the table tonight.
My report will not follow the usual format which describes the ebb and flow of play in some detail because there was very little ebb and flow to the game particularly in the first half. Arsenal controlled possession to an almost unprecedented degree in the first forty five, having close to 85% of the ball and over the ninety minutes, having 68% of the possession. Raya didn’t make a save in the ninety minutes and the three shots that Ipswich generated were all blocked by the Arsenal defence. The nearest they came to threatening the Arsenal goal was in the very first minute as the strains of North London Forever were ringing out, Delap almost got control of the ball in the six yard box but Arsenal scrambled it clear.
Arsenal had picked Lewis-Skelly at left-back in the staring eleven and he played the whole game. Kai Havertz and Jesùs interchanged in a sort of striker/false nine combo and Martinelli replaced Saka on the right with Trossard on the left.
The early exchanges took place in the foggiest conditions I had seen for a while. I had anticipated a special night from the appearance of two legends – the estimable C100 who uses the same entrance as me and the appearance before the game of the much-loved Santi Cazorla. I missed most of Santi’s interview but the deep well of affection for him was very obvious from the crowd reaction. He is one of the most talented natural footballers I have ever seen at the Stadium of Stone and is still plying his trade, at the age of forty, with Real Oviedo in the Spanish Second Division. How sad and unfair that in such a long career we were deprived of his services for so long.
Santi would have been very useful in helping to provide a creative spark for Arsenal tonight. Despite overwhelming possession the absence of Bukayo Saka who will surely miss the majority of this season was keenly felt. Arsenal began slowly and their first effort was a run and shot from distance from the excellent Timber. The Ipswich goalkeeper, who played well tonight, saved it and then watched a Rice drive whistle over. Ødegaard prompted and probed but when our goal came it was very simple. A long Ødegaard cross reached Trossard on the left who dinked a ball into the middle for Kai Havertz to nip in and turn the ball home.
Arsenal 1 Ipswich 0 – Havertz, 23 minutes
The rest of the half saw us continue our overwhelming territorial superiority but to no great effect. Jesùs had a goal rightly disallowed for offside but despite a coordinated team performance and a press and particularly a counter-press to which Ipswich had no answer, a rather flat first half ended with us only one goal to the good.
Half-time: Arsenal 1 Ipswich 0
We hoped for better in the second half and there was greater intensity about Arsenal’s attacking with Ipswich being penned in for large parts of the second period. Muric, the Kosovo national keeper, made several fine low saves most particularly from a Rice volley direct from an Ødegaard corner. Our Norwegian captain is desperate to score but miscued or failed to beat Muric several times. Gabriel headed a superb Rice corner wide from close range and Havertz missed a close range chance, not being able to direct a flick-on beyond Muric.
This was frustrating, not just because it kept Ipswich in a match they had no right to be in, but also because it illustrated how thin our attacking resources are. All of our fit front-line forwards were on the pitch and we desperately need reinforcement in the attacking area. It is inconceivable that we can successfully get through the season with the attacking resources we currently have. If Saka is lost to us this season we need more penetration on the wings and we ideally need someone who can be a predator in the opposition box. Jesùs was admirable in his work rate. Havertz played excellently in both the roles he had but we lack the attacking resources of Liverpool who have Salah, Nunes, Jota, Gakpo and Diaz to throw at the opposition and their midfielders are likely to score more goals than ours too. So far this season our midfielders have notched five goals between them and one was a penalty.
We are also much more potent away from home where we have scored five or more goals seven times by my reckoning. I fully expect us to beat the three promoted sides much more easily than we beat them at home but low blocks and organised defences will be a common site in N5 for the rest of the season and we have to find a way around them.
It should also be said that we have the best defence in the league, have recorded four successive clean sheets at home, have got the only unbeaten home record in the league and have a number of admirable performers. Gabriel and Saliba regularly get flowers but Timber is also a terrific player and a huge asset. Tonight Rice was measured and prescient, putting out potential fires before they could begin and young Lewis-Skelly, two rushed clearances aside, played extremely well and does not look remotely out of place at this level. But with no Saka or Sterling we have only Nwaneri to bring into our forward line.
A flat game ended …flatly, but the points were safely secured and tellingly Arteta made only two substitutions, both fairly late on, for Jesùs and Rice. Was he sensibly shepherding resources sending a message to the boardroom or was he trying to give our more delicate defensive players more respite?
Full-time: Arsenal 1 Ipswich 0
Whatever the case, we were deserved winners and should not beat ourselves up too much from this point on if we secure the necessary points. This can still be a wonderful season but it is unlikely to be so if we cannot increase our attacking threat. With no Technical Director that is quite a challenge for our management team.
Thanks TTG – a fine write up if a less than scintillating game. We definitely do need more attackjng resources but we can also use those we have much better. This ultra slow build up play with paceless passes into feet is giving these low blocks far too much time to get organised when we turn possession over. And by crawling up to the edge of the opposition area there is no space for the ball in behind which would suit a speed merchant like Martinelli much better than trying to trick his way past a double marker – something he is not suited too. He worked tremendously hard again and every time he had a yard to work in he produces a threat but our own build up play is nullifying him at the moment. When opposition defences drop so deep we have to stretch them out wide but much more quickly.
It’s been a cruel season in terms of injuries but we are still second and mostly finding a way to get it done. I don’t know exactly what Bukayo Saka’s injury is but the fact he has needed surgery indicates a very serious tear given that Bath has learnt that there was no avulsion. It’s going to be a long, slow route back to ensure that he can regain the range of movement and crucially strength needed to avoid reoccurrence. Fingers crossed – for Bukayo and us.
Thanks for the match report TTG. I agree with every word of it. I thought we were pretty good last night. Especially in the second half we created lots of chances, mostly by running directly at their defence. Only a glaring miss by Gabriel and several excellent saves by the Ipswich keeper, the score could have been two or three nil. TTG rehearses all the good stats about this team. I didn’t think anyone played badly and many, especiallly both full backs were very good.
And yet, as we headed East through Hackney on the way back to the M11 the radio featured Arsenal fan after Arsenal fan saying that because we didn’t put six past Ipswich and Saka is injured that was it, league was gone, we wouldn’t make top four.
Well, we’ll see.
What a bonus ! Thanks Ned and TTG for a very swift update to the Predictathon ! Finally some upward movement as we approach the second half of the season. Form is temporary, class is permanent as the saying goes so hopefully my “safer” selections than last season will start to pay off.
A speedy and accurate account of an eminently forgettable game. ’twas a well executed and created goal by Kai Havertz after good work by Ødegaard and Trossard but all other mammoth efforts expended in this contest went for naught. We would have had a less nervy last ten had Timber’s dribble directly into the heart of their defence ended in a shot anywhere than directly at the keeper, had Rice’s superb volley direct from a corner not struck Tractorboy flesh, had Gabriel not misdirected his header after amazingly losing his marker who was clinging to him like a lost lover and had Havertz connected better with the ball at close range. Hey ho. As Mikel always says the game is about fine margins.
The team is learning to play without our starboy who so often makes the difference in these tight affairs. As you rightly observe, TTG, we must learn to be patient with them as they do and accept points won without style and panache. You are also right that we need to re-inforce the attack if we are to sustain our challenge. There was no-one but Nwaneri on the bench to bring on for that department and while he has talent, given his low recent impact as a sub, I can see why Arteta did not throw him on. Who can be persuaded to join and sustain a title challenger in January?
C100 – Arsenal is clearly not exempt from entitled, ignorant fans either. Injuries, one time only red cards and well organised low blocks aside, we’ve done remarkably well to be where we are.
I didn’t spot any fat ladies singing North London Forever last night so it ain’t over yet. Not by a long way.
A fine report, TTG and some builds with which I agree fully @1, Trev (“let’s pass the ball back and forth a few more times in our own half – Ipswich are not quite fully organised at the back yet”) and 2@, C100, indeed, we’ll see.
That was a tough watch but three points, elevation to second, a fourth consecutive clean sheet, no injuries on the night, Santi in the house and a partridge in a pear tree were all worthy footnotes. More importantly, MLS is already ready to play as a six as much as he is a three – what more can we ask of the young man – some goals maybe?
Every single team in Europe would miss Bukayo as a starter. Winning the title without him will be a fantastic accomplishment – and we can.
Trev @1, I have NOT learnt that there was no avulsion. I was deducing (PERHAPS WRONGLY!) from Arteta’s comment on the healing of scar tissue that they had decided that it was preferable to surgically remove the scarred muscle that he had damaged earlier this year and had caused a recurrent tear. It is possible to interpret his words as referring to the healing of the scar at the repaired avulsion but that would seem to me to be a less likely way to describe that. However, unsurprisingly, Arteta does occasionally use strange forms of the language. I am definitely not ITK.
For those who, like me, do not have the benefit of a medical or sports medicine background like Bath or Trev, Dr Google gives the following definition of an avulsion.
An avulsion injury is a forcible tearing away of skin or other body parts, like a finger or ear. It can also refer to a fracture where a ligament or tendon breaks off a small piece of attached bone. Avulsions can expose muscles, tendons, tissue, fascia, and bones. Common sites for avulsions include the hip, ankle, knee, elbow, heel, and pelvis.
Bath, oh ok – I haven’t heard Arteta’s interview and assumed you were adding to what SP in the previous bar had taken from Pedro at Le Grove. The internet and a game of Chinese whispers – what could possibly go wrong ?!
Send three and fourpence, we’re going to a dance !
Great report TTG – and I agree with @2Trev on all his observations.
We need to sign a forward in January. Rashford loan would be perfect – he would love to rub manure in Manure’s face😜
As ever there is a stack of good sense – and a symposium on muscular injury – in this bar! I wrote the report very late last night and was worried that the inevitable irritability that comes with tiredness would sour the mood of my report . But I hold to what I said . We do need to refresh and extend our attacking resources in the best way possible . My sense is we may see Osimhen in North London by the end of the window but I also hear whispers about Cunha which would please Trev and I .
I avoid most social media after a game nowadays – the BBC message board is one of the worst because it is full of trolls and WUMs. What Arteta has built is a remarkable construct but if major parts get damaged the replacement is not simply a slot-in . Watching from the cerebral heights of the North Bank Upper it is possible to see how Arteta’s JDP model works and how players fit into the roles they are given. Rice holds that team together in central midfield and Odegaard provides a creative spark but at home we play to a rhythm that is too slow as Trev points out . We need to find ways to liberate pace out wide and to get more players into the six yard box at crucial times . You get nowt for artistic impression in this league albeit that everyone plays almost the same way especially in build-up play . I trust the process but Mikel needs to inject some rocket fuel
A match report that is absolutely on point, TTG. On another day, we’d have scored two or three, and this would have been chalked up as a routine win.
One random thought to add is that we have minimised the risk of teams that employ a low block hitting us on the breakaway. The cost of that may be the more patient build-up. Yet, we need to be able to move up through the gears more rapidly when we reach the edge of an opponent’s penalty area.
I suppose the absence of any of the most promising Academy wingers — Kabia, Ferdinand and Butler-Oyedeji — from the bench suggests Arteta doesn’t see an internal solution to Saka being off games.
Trev@3: 👍 For those who had no idea what Trev was talking about, the GHF Predictathon leaderboard for Match Week 18 has been posted, along with the latest five-week form guide. Trev’s form is spectacular (Matron!). You know where to find them…
Thanks TTG for your report on a forgettable game but decent performance particularly defensively to have secured us an invaluable three points. Ipswich never threatened except at the very start as you say. Merino had a decent chance that the keeper kept out but that was as good a second half chance as we had. January shopping options don’t look that plentiful unfortunately so what will Mikel do?
I’ve been discussing elsewhere with Trev the possibility of signing Rashford . He is understandably dubious about his character and attitude. I’m starting to think that if we sign Neto on loan he might be worth a punt if Arteta can rekindle the Rashford who was so electric two years ago . That’s a huge if but we don’t have unlimited options . A lot might depend on the terms we could negotiate but the main imponderable is whether there is still a top- class player there
Not for me, TTG.
Terrible attitude, can’t see him fitting Arteta’s template for a hard working winger who presses and tracks back to defend. If he’s capable of doing that then, as a highly paid professional, he should have been doing it for a long time now.
Thanks TTG, an excellent report that I mostly agree with as usual.
On we go to Brentford away, a tricky game as is Brighton a few days later.
But before that we’ll have hope that somehow the useless hammers can take
points from the scousers,
TTG @14, I’m with Trev on this. Not even with a rancid barge pole from the foetid Manchester Ship Canal. Rashford looks as if he no longer loves the game and he clearly now gives the appearance of being primarily a party animal. A cross between Marinello and Ozil, if you will, taking the least satisfactory features of each. And imagine the effect on the dressing room of bringing in another overpaid, underperforming narcissist!
It would appear that last night’s rumour of the return of Vieira has been scotched. Not the worst plan though it’s hard to see him being a PL-winning force.
I agree that Rashford is a risk not worth taking. He would offer more clinicality in front of goal, but Trev@15 articulates the overwhelming negatives. I do not doubt that rekindling Rashford’s career will be a successful project for some head coach, but I don’t think that is Arteta. Rashford is also on £300,000 a week. I doubt that penny-pinching Ineos would be willing to subsidise that significantly. If we are shopping at Ratcliffe’s everything-must-go sale, I’d prefer Zirkzee or Garnacho, both slightly cheaper in price and significantly cheaper in wages.
If TTG@11 is correct about Osimhen, that would be a better outcome than taking any Red Manc cast-off. Cunha would be an excellent addition to the squad but not a step-change in our striking capacity.
We clearly have to find a solution. Saka has been involved in 30% of our goals this season and that is a large deficit to replace. The optimists can talk up the opportunity this presents for others to step up but we need several players to improve their output to compensate for Saka’s absence and I honestly don’t see an internal solution. We started all our remaining senior attackers against Ipswich, struggled to score and had only Nwaneri as an option from the bench. All we need is another injury and we will be playing Merino as an emergency ‘centre forward’!
We’ve been linked with several top strikers since the summer – I suspect none will be available in January. I wouldn’t expect or want a discounted deal for Rashford. Of those who are said to be available on loan, Dani Olmo might fit the bill for us.
West Ham really are utter shite.
Great match report TTG, thanks!
This match, just following the performance against Palace who tried to play their football, was a confirmation to us and the entire league that for most of the teams to effectively stop Arsenal from winning will be to have well-drilled defensive low blocks which we have been struggling with for a while now. The excellent corner routines and the effervescence of Saka in the final third have often helped us break the stalemate, but for different reasons neither are guarantees for the rest of the season. I do agree that Gabriel is unlikely to miss another open header like that and we will likely maintain the 1-in-3 matches type of goal ratio from corners, but will that be enough?
We went into this season with a high-risk strategy in the attacking department, relying very heavily on the likelihood of Martin and Saka staying fit for the majority of the season, and in Arteta’s system both are loaded with a lot of work off the ball. Our backup options weren’t great last season, and we let ESR, Reiss and Fabio leave and only brought in Nwaneri (great talent, but it’s not right to expect him to become a decider coming off the bench) and Sterling (well past his best). ESR, Reiss and Fabio weren’t particularly playing that well, granted, but in both Reiss and ESR we had two players who are occasionally capable of influencing the outcome of the match off the bench, and both would have been abler deputies of Martin and Saka (despite being different types of players) than what we have now. We didn’t bring in any natural goalscorer which this team still doesn’t have, relying more on Jesus and Havertz who are both excellent footballers with abilities to use their technique and intelligence to score goals sometimes, but not a genuine one-in-two chances kind of difference maker.
If we are to be serious about winning either the league or the CL — and why not? — we need to bring in at least two players in January. One as a goalscoring threat, especially from the bench when needed, and another one who can bring more experience and guile as an alternative to Saka (and also capable of playing a bit more central role when needed to allow Martin some breaks) than Nwaneri at this early stage of his career is capable of.
We are very close to becoming a truly great team. The club and Arteta and his team have done a great job bringing us here, and it’s now time to really push forward to make all the great effort count. The strong defensive foundation isn’t something we should just take for granted — next season a lot can change in terms of form and availability— but appreciate it’s uniqueness (especially given that the club worked so hard to build it) and complement it by making decisive additions to the forward line.
Not many outside us Arsenal fans anymore remember how brilliant and creative the Arsenal teams of early Emirates era were. That team won nothing memorable as a combination of injury and lack of decisiveness in filling in some obvious gaps eventually diluted the spirit and confidence of that team. I hope this iteration of Arsenal team isn’t left to lose the great potential over time by such similar lack of decisiveness in filling in some starkly obvious needs.
Dr F
An excellent drink thank you . You make many good points
Let me make it clear that taking Rashford on loan ( only possible if we buy Neto ) is high risk and more likely to fail than succeed . But we are in a difficult situation and must take a risk
I’m an insurance man so I always like risk to be minimised as far as possible . Rashford isn’t going to play for United under Amorim so they’d like to unload him . I think we could loan him for £8m total The key to me is if there is a desire to reinvent himself . If there is Arteta could help him as easily as anyone . If we do nothing we are incredibly vulnerable to injury issues as Bath suggests earlier
When you are behind the eight ball you need to take a risk and I think Rashford is the best option we have that is feasible . If we take him and Osimhen we might ignite our forward play . I’d do it
Bringing Vieira back would not excite me
I think you’d find the majority of those of an Arsenal persuasion to be in nearly lock-step alignment with you, Dr F – including Mikel and those in the hallowed halls of wherever the hallowed callers hang out. I’m quite sure that there will be a huge willingness to invest in the type and calibre of players you recommend. Finding those players and securing their signature (at anything like a reasonable price – highly inflated is inevitable and I’ve seen £150M labelled on Isak) will be the obvious challenge. Thereafter, bringing them up to speed with nothing like a pre-season of acclimation would require all of the boss’ many talents for success.
There were two occasions when the solidly parked bus in the low block car park looked threatened. Timber and then Odegaard both decided to runny dribble through the massed ranks in blue and with better finishing, both would have scored. I’m sure MA8 took note.
Dr F, we are back where we have been so many times over the years since the Invincibles broke up – we just need two more high quality signings and we’ll be competing for the big silverware again. I’ve heard it and said it so often. And you’re right about the nearly teams of the late noughties – had we signed them, our young talent would have stayed in order to win things and the lure of the awakening monster in east Manchester and the old tart from Stretford would have been resisted. But we had no money because of the new ground and our accountants were honest so we had to buy at the Co-op rather than Harrods. We never signed those two extra players of quality – when we did sign quality we lost quality elsewhere.
I remain utterly unconvinced by the arguments for Rashford. There are rumours on X that he’s been a problem at Manure for years. I fear that if he signs that he will poison our dressing room and I have no expectation that Ineos will do the kind of deal that would make a move to Arsenal financially sensible or remotely feasible. I think he’s a busted flush because of his attitude and I don’t belief that a six month loan deal will be enough time to re-invigorate him and that the effort involved in inspiring this narcissist to put in the kind of effort that Arteta demands will detract from our coaches’ focus. No, no and thrice, no!
Thanks TTG, BtM and Bath for your comments.
About who we might get, I have no idea. I am of the school of thought that says when there is an uncompromising will to excel, there is almost always a way. I agree with you all about avoiding unconvincing players with questionable attitudes from other “big clubs”. I didn’t like any of them that we had contrived to find ourselves in need of over the years, maybe excepting Wellbeck who might have not been a top-notch player, but was very intelligent with great attitude and work ethic. However, even if someone like him were to become available I don’t think that would suffice to fill in the gap.
Trossard’s surprising January transfer window move was quite helpful in pushing the team forward, even though his performance this season has been inconsistent. Two players of that type and experience may just be enough, but a player of younger age and greater pedigree maybe more relevant.
If I were Ineos, my game plan would be to make sure Rashford was too expensive for any PL club, rely on no European club being willing to meet his wages and leave him with no option but a Saudi move from which I could pocket a tidy transfer fee.
If Rashford is the answer we are asking the wrong question.
We have a few days, before the next game on Saturday. I just wanted to muse on other teams. How well have Forest, Fulham and Bournemouth done? At a time when City, United and Spurs are all struggling. This is surely good for the league?
That’s a good question C100.
Several clubs, those who seem to have particularly impressive managers, are significantly exceeding expectations. Whereas Brighton did this over the last couple of seasons Bournemouth have taken their mantle. Project back- could one ever imagine Bournemouth winning 3-0 in successive years at Old Trafford ? Iraiola is a great coach but they spot talent so well. Semenyo, Huijsen, Kluivert etc etc . Compare this with United. Would Bournemouth take Timo Werner on loan ? Fulham are Arsenal B and have resurrected Jimenez and got a strong tune out of Iwobi . Robinson the left-back is particularly strong . They are a bit erratic but have just drawn with us , won at Chelsea and taken points at Anfield and the Toilet Bowl. Brentford have a Moneyball model which has served tgem wel, and spot young talent brilliantly . Mbeumo is a real star. Frank is an excellent manager but they must improve away .
I am struggling in the Predictathon because I rated Lopetegui much higher than Nuno. Nuno has a very sensible model. Great defence esp the CBs who are second only to ours , very well constructed midfield- Gibbs White is a talent and two very quick wingers with a big target man upfront who gets the service he thrives on . I’m impressed just as I’m not impressed with West Ham and Spurs and United .
It has made the league harder but more interesting
Silva and Iraiola have been superb at adapting their footballing philosophies to the players they have available, making their teams more than the sum of their parts. They have become the new Brightons, fixtures in the bottom half of the top half of the table, which is no mean feat. As TTG notes, Nunos dos Santos has rebuilt Forest on a rock-solid defence. The question hanging over the club is whether it will see a repeat of what caused Nunos to leave Wolves after leading them to European football — a mix of injuries to key players and a dispute with his owners over strengthening the team to keep it at the level he had taken it to.
Forest, Bournemouth and Fulham have exceeded all expectations so far this season and long may they continue to do so. They join Brighton as breaths of fresh air. Constant churn was formerly one of the strengths of English football until the bedding in of the Premier League and then the emergence of financially doped clubs. This season’s likely promotion of last season’s relegated trio and relegation of last season’s promoted trio superficially suggests that the hitherto difficult to break into ‘top four’ that then expanded to a ‘top six’ may have become a difficult to break into ‘top seventeen’.
However bad decisions by owners in appointing coaches who make bad decisions in buying and selling players and bad tactical decisions can cause a club to plummet suddenly (cf. Manure) or to slowly decline over a number of seasons (cf Everton).
In an era when financial resources are so critically important to success on the field, it demonstrates the sensible ownership, astute club purchases and appointments and the tactical nous of coaches when cash-restricted clubs like Forest, Bournemouth Fulham and Brighton punch above their weight so well. The concern for their fans must be how long they can retain the services of star players and those over performing coaches so that they consistently overachieve. It’s just as vital to success for club executives to keep making the correct decisions in the boardroom as it is for their star players to do so on the field.
Well done those clubs. It’s refreshing to see! As it is good to see the decline of some others.
@29 in answer to your question at the end – yes, absolutely. It is a kind of slow death for the league if the same six teams fill the top six places every season.
I have been thinking about Rashford for a few days now and in the end I just wouldn’t do it. We have already gambled on Sterling, who as I recall was seen as being an obvious upgrade on Reiss at the time. Let’s see if that works out as he will be fit sooner than expected. It all seems a bit panicky just now as we are feeling the pressure from Liverpool.
Of course, if a better option comes along then great.
While we’re talking about other teams here’s the current thoughts of the excellent Spurs blogger, Alan Fisher.
OM@33: A consistent run of games in Saka’s absence might make Sterling less underwhelming than he has been to date. Few, if any, of us in this inestimable establishment have experience of training regularly but playing infrequently. We probably discount how difficult it is to come into a side on such an ad hoc basis and fit seamlessly.
More good stuff from Mike plus possible news about Saka’s procedure:
Romano is now suggesting that Raheem Sterling is only injured ‘ short-term’ and therefore Arsenal are not ‘ desperate ‘ to sign a winger . Hopefully we will see the best of Sterling if he gets more opportunities.
I would still not be upset if we were to sign a top-class striker
Re: Bath, “top seventeen”
I like that phrase, but also the churn you alluded to in which different strong teams would pop up year upon year in former days. Bournemouth, Fulham and Forest are only doing what real football fans are hoping to see. 👍🏼
Re thoughts at the end of the linked post @36 –
The recovery from arthroscopic surgery will almost certainly be quicker than from open surgery – although bear in mind that arthroscopic does not necessarily mean insignificant. Some ACL repairs can now be done arthroscopically.
In the end the recovery time will depend on the severity of the damage.
If we are talking about grade 2 level of damage – as it seems there could be a mixture of old scar tissue and new tear – it could still take up to 6 weeks for healing, initial stretching and strengthening, and full weight bearing.
Building range of movement and strength, – while ensuring no further injuries are caused by over exerting – running and ball work could easily take a further 6 weeks to get to the required level for premier league football.
The fact that it has been done arthroscopically might mean a return in 12 weeks as opposed to anything up to 26 weeks.
But don’t put your house on it.
It’s possible that the “proximal tear” might have been an avulsion after all.
In that case they will presumably drill into the main bone and the detached fragment in order to suture the two together.
For the bone to unite and heal from that kind of surgery is usually 12 weeks. Then the fitness work begins ……
Maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas for Chelsea fans to royally take the piss about us only beating Ipswich 1-0.
Come to that many of our more entitled fans considered it a disgrace.
Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea.
Trev, Bath, thanks for the insight into the nature of the issue with Saka and prognosis. Personally I would prefer not to rush Saka back. If we don’t see him again this season in order that he can be fully repaired and avoid the usual pointless internationals post season, then I’m fine with that. We’ve seen too many players rushed back – Wilshere and Fabregas spring to mind- only for it to create problems down the line.
C100 @41 -good point, well made. Seeing the crowd outside the North Bank around the idiots of AFTV is dispiriting. Fortunately, in this place there is only ever reasoned discourse. It is possible to maintain balance and respect while wholeheartedly supporting our fine club, manager and players. Who knew?
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