Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that Nicklas Bendtner is set to miss the start of the season.
Striker to miss openers, but Denilson and Djourou should be fine
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that Nicklas Bendtner is set to miss the start of the season.
The Danish striker is still struggling with a persistent groin injury and will now sit out the opening to the 2010/11 Premier League campaign.
Bendtner has been nursing the knock for some time and struggled through this summer's World Cup as he attempted to avoid further inflaming the problem.
His exploits at international level are unlikely to have aided his cause, but Arsenal are prepared to give him the rest he needs.
Wenger will be disappointed to be missing a physical presence at the head of his team, but accepts that the 22-year-old needs time in which to make a full recovery.
Concerns
He told Arsenal's
official website: "Bendtner will not be available for the start of the season. We don't know [how bad it is]."
Wenger also has concerns regarding the fitness of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, who both graced this summer's World Cup final, but has received better news on Denilson's recovery from a niggling knock.
"Denilson should be [fit] - maybe not for the Emirates Cup but for the Warsaw game and (Abou) Diaby as well," added the Frenchman.
"Fabregas and Van Persie are due to come back on 5th August and from then on we will see how much build-up work is needed physically and as well how they have recovered mentally from the World Cup.
"They might be short for the first game [of the season] but I don't know, that will depend on the fitness work they have done during the holiday."
Gamble
Johan Djourou, who hobbled off during the first half of Tuesday's 4-0 pre-season win over SC Neusiedl 1919, is another of those expected to shake off a slight problem in time for this weekend's Emirates Cup - which can be seen live on
Sky Sports HD 3 and Sky Sports 3.
"Djourou has a small hamstring problem but it is not bad," said Wenger after the convincing midweek win.
"He should be available for the weekend.
"(Tomas) Rosicky had a small, small alert. He was supposed to play in the first half but he could have played.
"I didn't want to take the gamble, it is only a little problem on his groin and I decided to replace him."
