Djourou injury blow for Gunners

By Martin Claffey

Monday, September 07, 2009

ARSENE WENGER’S Arsenal have been dealt a major injury blow after Johan Djourou, pictured, was ruled out for six months.

Defender Djourou suffered a knee injury during pre-season and it was hoped he would only be out for a couple of weeks. But scans have revealed a long standing problem and Djourou will have to undergo major surgery.

It leaves Wenger desperately short of defensive cover for first choice pair William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen and will leave him rueing not going into the transfer market for a centre-half.

French veteran Mikael Silvestre and Philippe Senderos are in the squad but the Swiss defender has not been involved in the first team since returning from a loan at Milan and wanted to leave in August. Djourou has a reputation for being injury-prone which may raise further questions over Wenger’s decision not to buy.

Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner has pleaded with Wenger to restore him to his favoured position up front.

Bendtner has been used in a wide role this season, with Dutchman Robin van Persie taking the central role in a front three.

But the Denmark forward craves a return to his favoured striking spot.

"I am an attacker not a winger. I have always seen myself as a striker and it is my goal to play as a striker all the time," he said.

"It is important for me to play and when Arsene tells me to play in a position, I’ll do that.

"Last season I played a lot from the left side and this season from the right side but, like I said, I prefer to play up front."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, September 07, 2009