Gunners cruise but injuries worry Wenger
Despite confirming Champions League football for a 16th successive season, there were some serious drawbacks for Arsene Wenger, last night, with a hamstring injury ruling Lukas Podolski out of Sunday’s North London derby with Tottenham while there are also injury doubts over Jack Wilshere and Ramsey himself.
“We paid a heavy price on the injury front because we lost Podolski,” said Wenger, who is out for three weeks.
“I don’t know how bad Ramsey is. I don’t know how will Wilshere will react. He looks alright.”
Ramsey himself was upbeat after his man-of-the-match performance. The Welshman admitted despite three big wins in a week, the Gunners might need to strengthen before the end of the transfer window.
Ramsey said: “We have a lot of quality in the team at the moment but maybe we’re a bit short on numbers.
“Maybe that’s what teams like Manchester City and Manchester United have done ever so well over the last few years is rotate – and maybe we’re a bit short on that. Maybe a few additions to the squad will help us rotate and can help us push on.”
Ramsey’s strong start to the season continued with a goal in each half of the second leg, his 26th-minute opener putting the tie beyond doubt before his brilliant finish from Theo Walcott’s cross completed the rout.
The 22-year-old Wales midfielder has scored three goals in four appearances this season and impressed again.
It was the Gunners’ 12th victory in the 12 play-off matches they have faced in the competition.
Now that Arsenal are guaranteed to be present in tomorrow’s draw for the group stage, Wenger can step up efforts to make new signings before the transfer window closes on Monday.
Wenger stated on Friday the biggest draw to any potential new arrival is Champions League football and the Frenchman’s hopes of capturing targets like Karim Benzema, Angel di Maria and Mesut Ozil will have improved.
Arsenal’s start was lacklustre and after 12 minutes their defence was in a state of panic as Caner Erkin swept unchallenged into their area. Carl Jenkinson arrived to break up play, but the ball squirted to Raul Meireles whose shot struck Bacary Sagna and found the arms of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal eventually settled and Podolski provided the initial burst that led to Arsenal’s opener, finding Theo Walcott running across the area and when he was tackled, the ball slipped to Ramsey who drilled home.
A powerful shot by Emenike was pushed onto the left post, but the first half should have finished with Arsenal pushing further head only for Olivier Giroud to miss a sitter.
Podolski lasted just five minutes of the second half before his hamstring injury struck, forcing him to make way for Kieran Gibbs.
Cazorla then struck the crossbar, before the Gunners finally delivered a second. Walcott found space down the left, sped into the area and picked out Ramsey who expertly steered the ball beyond Demirel.
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Monreal, Jenkinson, Wilshere, Walcott (Miyaichi 74), Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski (Gibbs 49) Giroud (Sanogo 60).
Demirel, Korkmaz, Alves, Gonul, Meireles, Cristian (Potuk 67), Sahin, Erkin, Sow (Topuz 83), Kuyt (Webo 66), Emenike.
Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
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