Cesc to miss the next two games

Arsenal squad for tomorrows match - Manuel ALMUNIA, Lukasz FABIANSKI, Bacary SAGNA, William GALLAS, Gael CLICHY, Justin HOYTE, Johan DJOUROU, Aaron RAMSEY, Jack WILSHERE, Kieran GIBBS, DENILSON, Theo WALCOTT, Emmanuel EBOUE, Mark RANDALL, Emmanuel ADEBAYOR Robin VAN PERSIE, Nicklas BENDTNER, Carlos VELA

I don't want to sound like a D&G merchant but our squad is already showing a lack of depth in the midfield and the season hasnt even started!

that squad is rediculous. I'm not saying there aren't any good players in there but GK is right, the midfield is rediculously inexperienced. I'm still confident of getting a result (though also cautious), but this is how we dropped points in the Prem last season, and this squad is even thinner. We are relying on luck to carry us through this year.

Now the Arsenal injury report might be the longest part of my preview! :(

Not just the midfield I've just realised: didn't Djourou have some kind of pain against Sevilla and came off? I don't think he's 100% either. Geez but we still have to play him alongside Gallas. It's a joke - and really really not funny!

hopefully it will force Arsene's hands a little bit but i doubt it. Although i like his idealistic young players philosophy, to win a title you need squad depth. It is not how good your first XI is but how good your bench is these days. Failing to plan for injuries is handing over to Lady Luck and last season she did not like us one bit.

Gael-Force, the problem I see here is that we routinely have a LOT of players out with injuries you'd need a whole additional squad to give us depth. F--king unbelievable. I'm not a D&G merchant but I was already nervous about this tie because of our midfield problem and now this! Geezus H! How long is this going to go on??? We seem to have more injuries than other clubs!

when is Song going to return, fit? we need him urgently. hope that Cameroon goes out very soon. every club seems to strengthen, but we let 3 players go and signed only one player ready for first team action.

this is farcical..I'm speechless at the state of this squad with the epl opener on Saturday.. I feel like having a rant but I'm too appalled. Honestly can anyone tell me what Wenger is thinking, I think he is taking this not killing the kids faaaar to literally.

Go Brazil then!

I'm far from being a chicken little type but this news just highlights my fears that having been growing all summer. I fully believe that Flamini, Gilberto, and Hleb are replaceable and seeing them go isn't the end of the world BUT a lot of people say we fell off and lost the race last year due to a lack of experience. I don't think we have to go buy a bunch of 25 year + big names, but relying on 17 year olds going into the first real game of the season just doesn't fill me with confidence. We've been so concerned about whether Denilson is a proper fit with Cesc that few are asking who can link up with him when Cesc is inevitably out. Without a good answer to that question Cesc will be playing far too many games again and get injured or just run out of steam come the final stretch. We all saw what happened to Henry after his World Cup summer, do we really want to be in a position where Cesc has to play virtually every game this year after the Euros, after playing nearly every game last year? I honestly don't see how this team can make a serious run if we don't strengthen in the middle - and I mean really strengthen, not just add another 19 year old with great technique who will grow into the English game.

I have a feeling we'll play 4-5-1 tomorrow with either Vela or Van perise dropping back into midfield with Adebayor playing up on his own. Even with that light squad i think we'll manage a win.

i think up front we're okay. midfield and central defence needs beefing up badly. we only really have senderos as viable backup to kolo and gallas, djourou hasnt been in the starting lineup often enough to gel IMO. song alone is not the answer, i hope wenger finds another player to beef up CB and DM positions

What the F*CK does Wenger mean by a big squad at home? He needs a DM ASAP.

there's a lot of good forwards in that squad, for what it's worth... a bit soft in the middle, but otherwise ok! where have all the CM's gone?

I will be really surprised if we win anything this season and my estimation is that the best we can expect is a repeat of last year. It's clear that our focus is the PL and CL and that we don't have the squad to compete for FA and Carling Cups which Arsene has de-prioritised. Clearly its an absolute must that we finish in the top 4 as a minimum. What's surprising is that Arsene knows what it takes to win a PL and so he can't be that myopic thinking that this current squad is capable of winning the PL competing against the squads of Chelsea and Man Utd. Oh well, the joys of supporting Arsenal!

i have to agree with foreverunited, of all people! Except for the central midfield problem, the squad is very strong, and even there with denilson/ramsey it's not the end of the world. Our defense and attack are basically full strength, especially in attack we have so many options tonight. I'm confident :-)

How long will be Nasri out for??