Huge blow for Arsene Wenger.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be set to receive a massive blow, with L’Equipe journalist Bruno Constant reporting on Twitter that striker Olivier Giroud has been ruled out for three months with a broken foot, sustained in the weekend’s 2-2 draw with Everton during which the Frenchman rescued a point for the Gunners.
Broken foot for Olivier Giroud who will be out for 3 months. More tomorow in @lequipe
— Bruno Constant (@Bruno_Constant) August 25, 2014
Giroud has been behind Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sanchez in the reckoning for a place as the lone striker for Arsenal so far this season, but his game-changing performance at Goodison Park would ordinarily have been enough for him to be given the nod for this week’s crucial Champions League qualifier against Besiktas at the Emirates Stadium.
The injury may also throw Arsene Wenger’s transfer plans into chaos, with inexperienced duo Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell, as well as winger Sanchez, his only options in attack.
That is, along with German forward and World Cup winner Lukas Podolski, who had been expected to secure a move to either Juventus or Vfl Wolfsburg but who now may well be staying with the club to cover the injury.
Former Montpellier man Giroud has received some criticism for his cumbersome style and wild finishing, but he offers a physical presence and level of link-up play that is absent from the Arsenal game when he is out of the team – something that will become evident over the coming weeks.
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