Arsenal kick off their 18th successive Champions League season against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, but manager Arsene Wenger will take on the Croatian giants without the services of some key players.
The Frenchman confirmed on Tuesday that Aaron Ramsey and Hector Bellerin remained in north London for the European opener, per Arsenal's official Twitter account:
James Olley of the London Evening Standard, meanwhile, quoted Wenger on Jack Wilshere's situation, announcing the midfielder is expected to miss three months following surgery this week:
It's a crushing blow for Wenger and Arsenal fans alike, so eager to see their homegrown product succeed and yet suffer setback after setback every time he starts to develop any momentum.
Nonetheless, Wenger remained adamant this was not to be considered a "career-threatening" injury for Wilshere, adding that "he can make a career his talent deserves."
A slow summer transfer window has left doubt at the Emirates Stadium regarding whether the Gunners will be capable of challenging for major silverware this season.
However, ex-Monaco helmsman Wenger assured fans his desire to win Europe's premier tournament is "immense" as he looks to bring the north London giants a trophy they've never claimed before:
Wenger has clearly been doing his research on Wednesday's opposition, too, hailing Dinamo Zagreb as a "very strong side" before unveiling a statistic on their past form that doesn't bode well for the Premier League side:
The Gunners earned a 2-0 win against Stoke City last Saturday as Theo Walcott started up front, and Olivier Giroud was relegated to the bench.
That selection leaves questions as to who can be expected to start in midweek, although Wenger insisted it's "easier to rotate than before," per Arsenal, despite bringing in no senior outfield players this summer.
Walcott may be considered once again as the primary option in attack after scoring against the Potters, although it didn't take Giroud long to make his impact after coming off of the bench.
Dinamo Zagreb may be considered easier prey in Group F alongside the likes of Bayern Munich and Olympiakos, but with a number of star men ruled out of the tie, Arsenal's perfect start is far from assured.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2567161-dinamo-zagreb-vs-arsenal-arsene-wengers-key-comments-from-pre-match-presser
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