• Champions League

Arsenal struggle to find enough fit players

ESPN staff
September 17, 2013
Wenger: We have the toughest group


Arsene Wenger admitted he was struggling for enough fit players to name seven substitutes for tonight's Champions League opener in Marseille.

"I'm concerned the squad is looking thin," he said. "From now until Christmas we will play every three or four days, and we cannot play for the next two months with the squad we have at the moment.

"It is important we get some players back."

Arsenal travelled to France without Mikel Arteta, Nicklas Bendtner, Santi Cazorla, Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, Tomas Rosicky and Yaya Sanogo. It seems likely Wenger will have to name 17-year-old Chuba Akpom and 18-year-old Isaac Hayden among his substitutes.

Olivier Giroud, the only fit striker, admitted the players were also worried "I am very pleased with the start we have made this season but I'm a bit scared about the numbers we have in our squad. We will face problems because of that but I think my knee will be OK for the game."

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