Combined Injured XI: Arsenal vs Manchester United

While usually we do a combined XI but the amount of injured players in this fixture provides us a unique chance of making a injured XI, of those players who will be missing this mouthwatering fixture at The Emirates today. At United with the incoming of a new manager this season training regimes were a certainity to change and hence the injuries.As Van Gaal is known to implement his training drills (You can watch training videos where Van Gaal is telling Rooney to take the corners in a particular way in pre season tour) and his mentality of football is every player should be able to defend and every player should contribute to the attack by keeping the possession which takes a toll on body and mind both to get accustomed to.Talking of Arsenal, nothing new over there only 6 injuries this time.Credit given to Arsene Wenger who transformed Arsenal with his training style and dietary plans from a team of alcholics to proper athletes but many a fans have raised their question on his training regimen where players get injured in the training leave the game alone. Arsenal have had a total of 889 injuries since 2001. Here is a list of best 11 injured players who if had played made a difference on the result and we’ll play a 4-4-1-1.Mouth watering fixture.

#1 GK -David Ospina

Ospina was selected as the main goalkeeper for Colombia throughout the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification competition. At the end of the qualifiers, Ospina conceded the fewest number of goals of the tournament. Such is the quality of Colombian international who was recognised for his shot stopping abilities this summer in Brazil as Colombia reached quarter final of the FIFA World Cup, so when the team reached Bogota they got hero like reception.

After Ospina's World Cup perfomances he was linked to many European sides. Despite being heavily linked to Atlético Madrid,it was announced that Ospina would depart to join English side Arsenal.Arsenal were handed another major injury blow as Arsene Wenger revealed that goalkeeper David Ospina will be out for up to three months with a thigh injury with an injury he picked up while playing for former club Nice.

#2 Left Back -Marcos Rojo

Faustino Marcos Alberto Rojo also known simply as Marcos Rojo began his career at local club Estudiantes de La Plata, where he won the Copa Libertadores in 2009 and played in the Club World Cup Final later that year. After a short spell with Spartak Moscow he joined Sporting CP in 2012.

Rojo made his first appearance for Argentina at senior level in 2011 and has since earned over 25 caps. He was part of their side which reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, and was the only Argentine included in the Castrol Performance Index Team of the Tournament and hence attracted lots of big club’s attention.On 19 August 2014, an agreement to sell Rojo for €20 million (£16 million) was announced by both Sporting and Manchester United.

Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo is likely to be out of the side for at least six weeks – and possibly as long as six months – after suffering a shoulder injury against Manchester City.

The Argentine dislocated a shoulder in the Manchester derby and his extended absence plunges Louis van Gaal back into the same defensive personnel crisis which has haunted him since he became United manager.

#3 Center Back-Laurent Koscielny

First Arsenal player to feature on the list and a notable omission from the Gunners defence.His absence has not only damaged their League winning chances strongly as their defence looks leaky now.With the Gunners going down twice after having a lead in recent memory which shows that Koscielny is an integral part of Wenger’s plans.And in his absence Callum Chambers is filling his boots, although he is a budding prospect but regular first team action in a Champions League playing club is not his cup of tea(as of now).His partnership with Mertesacker last season was solid making 16 clean sheets and scoring 2 important goals.

Laurent Koscielny is struggling with a long-term Achilles problem that has disrupted both his and Arsenal's 2014-15 campaign.Arsene Wenger had delivered a concerning long-term prognosis on Koscielny's current Achilles problem.Wenger admitted that it will take a significant amount of time to rid the defender of the injury completely.

#4 Center Back- Phil Jones

Phil Jones whenever he plays seems to be in control whenever he plays ,he has got strength,positional ability and aerial reach and that is why Sir Alex bought him for 17m at 18 years of age from Blackburn Rovers.His performances sometime are strong as he makes his presence felt but sometimes forwards are too clever for him .With quality technical defenders being a dying breed nowadays he sure to make big in the future provided he is fit always as he had as many as 18 injuries since 2010.

The former Blackburn player has only made one appearance since recovering from a hamstring injury that had ruled him out for a month earlier this season.Jones has struggled to stay fit during his three years at Old Trafford but had been expected to start against Chelsea before being hurt in training.

Phil Jones is fighting for full fitness after it was revealed that the Manchester United defender has been suffering with shin splints this season.

#5 Right Back - Mathieu Debuchy

Mathieu Debuchy,the 29 year old French man was bought by Gunners for 12m euros this summer from Newcastle United as Bacary Sagna left for greener pastures.The amount Wegner paid for him despite his strict transfer policy regarding playerages shows his quality.He is a consistent peformer featuring in 2011-12UNFPLigue 1Team of the Year before moving to the Premier League.With a WhoScored.com rating of 7.54 he is the second bestArsenal player after Alexis Sanchez.

On 13 September 2014, Debuchy damaged his ankle ligaments near the end of a 22 draw against Manchester City. He was administered oxygen and taken off the pitch on a stretcher.Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said the operation "went well" but added that Debuchy's extended absence "is a blow".Following surgery on his ankle, he was ruled out for about three months from action on the pitch and is going rehabilitation with quick recovery on the hands.

#6 Left Midfielder-Jese Lingard

Lingard was born in Warrington, Cheshire. He progressed through Manchester United's youth academy and was part of the side that won the2010–11 FA Youth Cup, before signing a professional contract in the summer of 2011.He made his competitive debut for the club in the first match of the 2014–15 Premier League season at home to Swansea City, starting the match but, due to injury, being substituted for Adnan Januzaj after 24 minutes.

Jesse Lingard's recovery from a knee injury is gathering pace after Louis van Gaal delivered the latest on the Manchester United youngster,Jesse Lingard's chances of impressing Louis van Gaal in the coming weeks have suffered a blow after the Manchester United midfielder was pictured leaving hospital on crutches and with his right leg in a brace.Lingard received treatment on his leg while on the pitch but was unable to continue.

#7 Central Midfielder-Daley Blind

The Dutch international after an impressive summer with Van Gaal in Brazil has impressed pundits with his calm headedness in the midfield except Gary Neville.The player who can also play as a left back may be short on the pace required for the Premier League but his knowledge and reading of the game is excellent beyond a doubt.

Blind was injured in Holland’s 6-0 win over Latvia on Sunday and reports suggested the Dutchman might be out of action for up to six months, but van Gaal is optimistic the midfielder will be back much sooner.

Van Gaal said that, "He has a brace on his knee, 10 days rest and he will have another scan and that will say more about the injury."It's not as bad as the doctors thought after the match but it shall be a long story I believe, but not six months or so."

#8 Central Midfielder-Abou Diaby

Vassiriki Abou Diaby is often described as a typical box-to-box midfielder; a midfielder who is adept both offensively and defensively.During his early years with Auxerre, he was often used as an attacking midfielder or a support striker due to his technical ability, close control, and dexterity to dribble past opponents or slip passes to team-mates.

Technically this man may be the most gifted player in not only Arsenal squad but also in a combined squad of United and Arsenal he would come with a stand out performance but that will happen only when he will play, it would take patience of a rock to have so much injuries and yet come back stronger and not leave the game in disappointment.

Abou Diaby was once heir to Patrick Vieira’s midfield throne at Arsenal .Strong, tall and combative - he was an Arsenal captain in the making.Now he is facing a future of uncertainty.

He has as much as 40 injuries in a span of 8 years latest being a calf injury!!!! Insanely high amount of injuries and yet Wenger says that he is not fragile.

#9 Right Midfielder- Theo Walcott

When Theo Walcott left the pitch last on a stretcher he infuriated many Spurs fans for the mischief he did by depicting the score through hand gestures.And which sparked of an internet debate that have we lost sensitivity towards humor and taken things far too seriously.

Arsenal and England were dealt a cruel blow after Theo Walcott was ruled out for the rest of the season and this summer's World Cup in Brazil after suffering serious knee ligament damage during a FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur.Walcott jarred his left knee while making a tackle on Danny Rose nine minutes from the end of the home side's 2-0 victory in the north London derby and departed on a stretcher while being pelted with coins and plastic bottles thrown from the away support.

Theo Walcott has suffered another injury setback, ruling him out of Saturday's Premier League showdown against Manchester United.

The Arsenal forward has only just come back from fitness following a nine month lay-off with a serious knee injury.But Walcott returned from England duty with a groin problem.

#10 Central Attacking Midfielder/Centre Forward-Mesut Ozil

Ozil who is generally played out of position than his favored attacking midfielder role is not the same player he used to be at Real Madrid.Maybe the new League is too fast for him as the quality of passes he was known to deliver is missing in Arsenal colours as his performances had lukewarm response among the fans.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed the freak injury Mesut Ozil picked up against Chelsea was merely from passing the ball with the outside of his left foot.

Ozil faces around two months of rehabilitation after scans on international duty with Germany discovered a 'partial rupture of the outer band of the left knee joint' which he suffered during the Gunners clash at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger said on the injury: '(Do) you know how Ozil did the injury? Passing the ball with the outside of his left foot. He must have done that a million times.

#11 Striker-Radamel Falcao

The Colombian, 28, is yet to complete a full game since joining in September after a loan deal that puts his wages 340,000 euros a week will miss Saturday's trip to Arsenal with an ongoing calf problem. Louis van Gaal's reference to a "new injury" in his Thursday media conference was intended to differentiate Falcao's calf complaint from the anterior cruciate ligament damage he suffered in January, rather than indicate a further setback in his recover.Radamel Falcao is facing at least another two weeks on the sidelines at Manchester United after admitting he is “training cautiously” in an effort to overcome his injury problems.

Falcao, though, remains hopeful over his rehabilitation but reiterated frustration over recent reports suggesting he is struggling to regain full fitness following the serious knee injury he suffered while playing for Monaco last January.

Edited by Staff Editor