Bharath Rammr
Manchester United prepare for one of the biggest games of the season, as they host Arsenal at Old Trafford this weekend, knowing that a number of first-team players will be unavailable for selection. Recently, Jose Mourinho is reported to have launched an enquiry into the medical staff at Old Trafford following the numerous injuries suffered by the team.
Mourinho would have been wishing for the international break to be kind on him in terms of injuries. However, it has not been the case with Marouane Fellaini returning from the Belgium squad after he failed to shake off the calf injury suffered in the 3-1 win over Swansea. And now the reports from M.E.N sees Wayne Rooney also returning to the club after picking up an injury while with the England national team.
Fellaini and Rooney have not been the first choice players of late, but Mourinho may have been counting on these two for the game against Arsenal given that he already has a number of absentees across the pitch.
Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw are the most-high profile absentees, as Jose Mourinho came in with a public – yet indirect – criticism of the two players after their decision to pull out from the game against Swansea. Smalling is set to miss the next four weeks of action with a broken toe, while Shaw continues to be one of the most injury prone players signed by United in recent seasons. The former Southampton left-back has made a grand total of 28 league starts since joining the club in the summer of 2014.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to scoring ways with two goals against Swansea, but he will be unavailable against Arsenal due to a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards. Antonio Valencia is widely tipped to return to the squad after making sufficient recovery from the broken arm. Eric Bailly, however, remains unavailable and is one of the long-term casualties. His last game was in the 4-0 loss against Chelsea.
Already struggling with these injuries, the addition of Fellaini and Rooney to the treatment table presents more problem for Mourinho. There have already been rumours that the Portuguese would continue with the makeshift defence even against Arsenal. Now, though, it looks like he may very well have to come up with a makeshift team altogether.
Undefeated since that opening day slump, Arsenal will be bubbling with confidence even as they visit Old Trafford. In the past, the stadium has given a lot of bad memories for the gunners with the 8-2 loss probably topping the list. However, they probably are in a good shape for their first league win at Old Trafford since 2006.
