Arsenal’s early kick-off in today’s FA Cup tie with Huddersfield looks like having repercussions for many a Fantasy Manager with the news that Samir Nasri has succumbed to a hamstring injury. The Frenchman pulled up whilst chasing a ball just after the half-hour mark and was immediately replaced by Thomas Rosicky.
Whilst Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott have all spent plenty time in the treatment room with various injuries this season, Nasri’s fitness and form has been essential to Arsene Wenger and his loss will surely hit the Gunners hard. Nasri has the fourth-highest ownership of all midfielders (34%) in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and his price will undoubtedly take a drop in light of this upcoming absence, with Fabregas and Walcott likely to see price rises from those looking for Arsenal midfield coverage, particularly with the Double game week 27 (WOL, STK) just around the corner.
After the match, the Arsenal boss confirmed the injury, saying:
He has a serious hamstring injury and that is usually three weeks. But we will have to see first. If it is a ‘Grade One’ it could only be two weeks. I have regrets about playing him now. The plan was to play [Tomas] Rosicky but he was not strong enough after illness. If I hadn’t played him he could have come on and it could have happened. Add three weeks on to now and it means he is a doubt for the Barcelona game.
A straight red card for Sebastien Squillaci, who has, ironically, just recovered from a hamstring injury will be good news for any owners or would-be owners of Johan Djourou. The ensuing one game ban means Djourou is certainly nailed-on for a first-team place for the upcoming Everton match and priced at just £4.3m in FPL, is something of a bargain. Djourou’s performances have seen him complete 90 minutes in five of the last six league games for Arsenal, and the Gunners have been impressive defensively in recent times, chalking up four league clean sheets on the trot now.
Not to second-guess Arsene Wenger’s selection policy as Djourou may very well have been first choice anyway, but this Squillaci ban, combined with Thomas Vermaelen’s continued absence with an Achilles problem, gives him another chance to further-cement his position in the heart of Wenger’s defence.
Wenger can at least breathe a sigh of relief that Huddersfield were despatched by a late Cesc Fabregas penalty, thus avoiding a replay to add to an already busy upcoming schedule, which includes a Champions League showdown with Barcelona and a Carling Cup Final against Birmingham.
