Hodgson» men, who would have benefited from time off
during the international break more than most, have a game against West Brom on the horizon, a match they will be targeting for three points.
Not exact matches
But despite the playmaker's lack of contact with the rest of the Arsenal first - team squad, head coach Arsene Wenger is still ready to drop Ozil in at the deep end in the north - east this afternoon, especially given the fact that the Frenchman saw yet
more of his players suffer injuries
during the recent
international break.
During international matches
break I am
more interested in our players coming back in one piece.
Wenger will be praying that no
more Arsenal players join the injury list
during the
international break, because straight after it we host Man City on Saturday and then play the first UCL group game away to Borussia Dortmund on the Tuesday; a nightmare start especially as we have Mathieu Debuchy banned for the next European game after another harsh red card in the play - offs.
Along with Austrian teammate Julian Baumgartlinger, it's claimed that United sent scouts to watch the pair a little
more closely
during the
international break as Mourinho looks at bolstering his options at left back and in midfield.
It is a bit like the importance of going into an
international break during the season after a good performance and result, only much
more so.
With seven players injured at the moment, there is not much for Kiryakov to choose from and the Russian former
international had
more than once suggested that the club are hoping to bring in several new players
during the winter
break.
Rashford was unlucky not to do
more damage to his opposition in the previous two domestic matches, and for England
during the
international break, exciting from his introduction on Sunday on the hour mark, doing much
more than most of his England teammates.
Jose Mourinho will not want any
more international games for some time, after losing three defenders
during this
break.
The scorching heat
during the World Cup matches even led to a recent Brazilian court decision ordering FIFA (
International Federation of Association Football) to include mandatory water
breaks for players
during a game if temperatures climb to 89.6 degrees F or
more.