Arsenal v Everton - Sunday 8th Dec - 16:00 KO

[Master Splinter]

Arsenal charity day or something.

Press conference at 7.

No, seriously the press conference is at 4 today.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

If what you say is true that players are likely to be injured in the 2/3 days between games then I see this as the right time to get players used to that kind of grind when it returns again in February for Champions League (if we qualify) when they will be playing all three games. However we don't have the League Cup as an issue this season so that will take care of that

It's not working with the unknown as such, if they're near the red zone (which can be determined) then they won't be played. If they aren't, then they will be played. I don't think there is much difference in the likeliness to pull a hamstring in training with less intense preparation than you are exert yourself in a match. Wilshere has played well for sure but he has played well at the same time as Ramsey and Özil are playing.

Ramsey, Özil and Giroud don't really have a history of muscle injuries so I don't think the need to rest them is as prevalent as it might be for Wilshere with his perennial ankle issue.

I don't think you can get your body used to playing every 2/3 days as it will either shortly result in injury (which is the ultimate of what you want to avoid) and an irregular occurrence in reality. It may happen for a few weeks and then not again for a month or two.

Not so much the unknown, but the unpredictable. Ie, a player having a clean bill of health doesn't necessarily mean he will carry on as such indefinitely. When that player will have his next injury is both unknown and not easy predict.

I don't agree that there is relatively equal chance of pulling a muscle in a controlled and contrived training situation as there is in a competitive game but it is somewhat besides the point anyway. I think you are probably right in regards to Ramsey who seems be an exceptional athlete and we probably don't have to be as worried about as I have sometimes been.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don't think you can get your body used to playing every 2/3 days as it will either shortly result in injury (which is the ultimate of what you want to avoid) and an irregular occurrence in reality. It may happen for a few weeks and then not again for a month or two.

Not so much the unknown, but the unpredictable. Ie, a player having a clean bill of health doesn't necessarily mean he will carry on as such indefinitely. When that player will have his next injury is both unknown and not easy predict.

I don't agree that there is relatively equal chance of pulling a muscle in a controlled and contrived training situation as there is in a competitive game but it is somewhat besides the point anyway. I think you are probably right in regards to Ramsey who seems be an exceptional athlete and we probably don't have to be as worried about as I have sometimes been.

Well how come clubs struggle to perform in one competition but are moderately ok in the other even after a season of doing well in the previous campaign? It's something Newcastle and Swansea have had to deal with and found it tough to do both. Tottenham found it tough when they were in the Champions League and had to play midweek because of it at a high level 12 times in a season. I am sure that Liverpool/Everton will too (though getting there is the most important thing).

It really should be no different to incrimentally building towards training for any other event. You don't train for a marathon if you've never done it before by starting running a 26 mile at your first attempt, it's something that you lead up to. I see no reason why that should not be the case for the most robust players in regard to March and April - we do after all have midweek games every two weeks and have since the first weeks of the season. It's part of the process for being the best player in the top sides - we haven't had to think of it in those terms neccesarily because we've not been contenders perhaps.

We've had plenty of hamstring injuries, some have come in training, some have happened in competitive matches. I would guess that Wenger's training sessions are probably more intense than others and if a player doesn't do the requisite work, it's why they can happen then and regularly have for us.

Of course a clean bill of health doesn't suggest they will be indefinitely but I really don't think you can protect players throughout a whole season. The priority of getting the results should take precadence over whether somebody gets injured or not (assuming it is not obvious they are in danger). If they get an injury, that's unfortunate but then the precadence goes to the next best player that is available.

[GP]

Sagna will miss Everton and Napoli.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Jenks.

[selassie]

I think we'll narrowly beat them but it won't be pretty and won't be easy.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I think we'll narrowly beat them but it won't be pretty and won't be easy.

Unlike MOe's conquests.

[fakeyank]

Unlike MOe's conquests.

[Marc Overmars]

I've settled down now. Honest.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't think marathon training is like training as a footballer. The intensity in training isn't the same as in a game. pre season is used to get players in a condition for optimum fitness throughout a 90 minute game of football.

Injuries occur in training naturally because the whole squad takes part and it lasts for much long over the week than the isolated 90 minutes in a game even if it is not always as intense.

I think you can take steps to avoid or reduce the likelihood of injuries throughout a season by resting players at timely opportunities and I would argue that is already what we do and many other clubs. Many on here were happy for us to do so in the COCup. I wasn't so in favour at the time but I believe the squad we have allows us to have our cake and even also eat a little of it.

The matters of a players health and fitness vs results are bound. Symbiotic if you will. The results aren't optimised unless players are in the greatest shape they can be. Moreover, on form and technicalities as I've suggested already, I think a case can be made for Wilshere playing regardless of any need to give anyone else a breather.

There is debate surrounding who exactly is our best 11 to begin with, so the argument isn't as straight forward as it might be. Even if one does not agree, the pursuit of a timely rest to any one player, is precisely intended to attain good results...even if looked at over the season. In that sense it isn't to be seen as prioritising a player's fitness over results. Although as I've said, I do think you are probably right in Ramsey's case for Sunday.

Well how come clubs struggle to perform in one competition but are moderately ok in the other even after a season of doing well in the previous campaign? It's something Newcastle and Swansea have had to deal with and found it tough to do both. Tottenham found it tough when they were in the Champions League and had to play midweek because of it at a high level 12 times in a season. I am sure that Liverpool/Everton will too (though getting there is the most important thing).

It really should be no different to incrimentally building towards training for any other event. You don't train for a marathon if you've never done it before by starting running a 26 mile at your first attempt, it's something that you lead up to. I see no reason why that should not be the case for the most robust players in regard to March and April - we do after all have midweek games every two weeks and have since the first weeks of the season. It's part of the process for being the best player in the top sides - we haven't had to think of it in those terms neccesarily because we've not been contenders perhaps.

We've had plenty of hamstring injuries, some have come in training, some have happened in competitive matches. I would guess that Wenger's training sessions are probably more intense than others and if a player doesn't do the requisite work, it's why they can happen then and regularly have for us.

Of course a clean bill of health doesn't suggest they will be indefinitely but I really don't think you can protect players throughout a whole season. The priority of getting the results should take precadence over whether somebody gets injured or not (assuming it is not obvious they are in danger). If they get an injury, that's unfortunate but then the precadence goes to the next best player that is available.