Mesut Ozil suffered a huge injury setback this week…
It was announced today that Arsenal’s German midfielder Mesut Ozil is unlikely to play again until early next year, after suffering a partial knee ligament tear against Chelsea.
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While the news will come as a blow to the Gunners, the World Cup winner would surely count himself lucky if he took a read through the ten worst injuries in Premier League history:
10) Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Cech ran out to collect a loose ball in the first 20 seconds of the match, but was challenged by Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt who was also after the ball. The two collided, and Hunt’s knee crashed against Petr’s head. The keeper was left dazed for quite some time before being hauled off on a stretcher. Carlo Cudicini was subbed in to replace him, but he too ended up being knocked unconscious.
9) Alf-Inge Haaland (Manchester City)
Keane lunged in to snatch the ball away from Haaland, but instead damaged his anterior cruciate ligaments. Alf-Inge approached the downed Irishman and blasted him for his attempted foul. Keane looked to seek revenge three and a half years later, hammering him with a high boot straight to the knee. Taunting the crippled player was bad enough, but the aftermath was sickening, as he showed no remorse.
8) Alan Smith (Manchester United)
John Arne Riise, known for having a really powerful pelt, lined up for a free kick. Alan Smith bravely ran forward, launching himself in the way of the fierce thunderbolt, but paid the price as he suffered two separate injuries. The first was a break to the leg and the second was a dislocated ankle. Despite the distress he was in, play continued for a little longer before teammates Edwin Van der Sar and Gary Neville rushed over.
7) Gary Mabbutt (Tottenham Hotspur)
Contesting for the ball with John Fashanu, the Spurs defender was smashed in the face by an elbow. The clash almost cost Gary his eye and his career. The extent of the injuries were a damaged eye socket (which took two hours of surgery to piece together), three different breaks and four fractures in the cheekbone. A metal plate had to be inserted beneath the skin and the Bristol-born defender spent many weeks under a plastic mask.
6) Luc Nilis (Aston Villa)
Only four minutes into a match with Ipswich Town a horrible collision between the Belgian and Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright brought the game to a complete stop. Nilis’ right leg bent backwards just below the knee, curling straight back up towards the ankle. He was hit with a double fracture and was forced to retire just four months later. Within four days of the match, he had already gone under the knife twice, and never recovered.
5) Djibril Cisse (Liverpool)
The striker got caught in a tangle in a match against Blackburn Rovers. As his boot got stuck in the turf, his calf bone was kicked in the other direction by Jay McEveley. A sign of a break was clear from impact, as his leg slouched like it had no bone at all. He screamed out from the excruciating pain. Luckily, the French international received prompt attention, and he revealed that if it wasn’t for this, he would of lost his leg altogether.
4) Eduardo Da Silva (Arsenal)
Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor slid in with a tough tackle causing Eduardo’s left fibula to be rendered broken and his ankle was openly dislocated. The Arsenal forward hit the deck, and Taylor knelt next to him. A red card was dished out as players and physios rushed over. A few players, including Cesc Fabregas, signalled towards the dugout, and the concern for the youngster’s well-being was felt everywhere.
3) Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Just two years later, Ryan Shawcross was the perpetrator as another Arsenal youngster had his career put at risk. A red carded Shawcross was initially unaware of the damage he dealt to Ramsey, but, upon noticing the contorted leg, began to weep. He left the pitch visibly distraught as the injured player was rushed to hospital. Ramsey was also in tears as he rolled around on the grass, his leg actually dangling and bent out of shape.
2) Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United)
The Frenchman was brought down with a tackle from Nigel de Jong. His left leg suffered a double break, one in his tibia (shin bone) and one in his fibula (calf bone). Roughly a month following the incident, he underwent surgery to repair complications that were preventing his bones from properly healing. He returned to action over 18 months later in a pre-season friendly, and was lucky not to have had his career ended by the challenge.
1) David Busst (Coventry City)
Two minutes into the match, the defender found his way up field as his team looked to take a corner. As the cross swung in, Dennis Irwin and Brian McClair launched at the ball in a frantic attempt to clear it. The both connected with Busst, whose tibia and his fibula sustained extensive fractures. United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who garnered a reputation as a tough, no-fear player, instantly fled the scene with his eyes covered up.
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