Wenger sweating on Ramsey and Wilshere injuries

 

The Arsenal manager has faced more questions about the depth of his squad after Lukas Podolski was also injured in the 2-0 home win against Fenerbahce on Tuesday

Arsene Wenger is sweating on the fitness of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey ahead of Sunday's north London derby clash with Tottenham.

The midfield duo picked up ankle and groin problems respectively during Arsenal's comfortable 2-0 Champions League qualifying win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday evening, with Lukas Podolski also forced off.

The Germany international tweaked his hamstring and will be out for at least three weeks as the calls for new signings at the Emirates Stadium grow stronger.

"Jack should be alright for Sunday and I'm hopeful on Aaron as well," he told reporters.

"I don't know how bad it is. I took Ramsey off with three or four minutes to go but I don't know how bad it is. I haven't seen him yet.

"That’s a negative of tonight – we paid the price because we lost Podolski, I don’t know how Ramsey is, or how Wilshere will respond to his ankle problem.

"The two tackles on Wilshere [late on] were disappointing.

"Podolski will definitely be out for 21 days and we have to check on Ramsey’s groin [on Wednesday].

"I wanted to take Wilshere off. I would have played with 10 men, because they had to score five goals in 10 minutes. Even with 10 men, we could have avoided that. But he told the physio he wanted to go on."

 

Wenger also paid tribute to Ramsey's match-winning display after the Welshman bagged both of the Gunners goals, one in each half.

"He gets to the end of things now," he added. "I liked especially his second goal. It's a good finish and a year ago he would not have taken that chance the way he took it here.

He's improving from week to week. That's very positive for us because a year ago, many people were questioning him."

 

That’s a negative of tonight – we paid the price because we lost Podolski, I don’t know how Ramsey is, or how Wilshere will respond to his ankle problem.

The two tackles on Wilshere [late on] were disappointing.

Podolski will definitely be out for 21 days and we have to check on Ramsey’s groin tomorrow.

I wanted to take Wilshere off. I would have played with 10 men, because they had to score five goals in 10 minutes. Even with 10 men, we could have avoided that. But he told the physio he wanted to go on.