Arsene Wenger has spoken ahead of our match with Sunderland on Saturday and claimed that the current injury crisis we’re experiencing is a ‘great challenge’…

The boss reckons this is a fantastic test for our players and will really show how ready we are to fight for the title.

“I believe first of all it’s always a disappointment to lose the players at an important moment of the season,” Wenger said.

“But on the other hand, it’s a great challenge to take for the team and a great opportunity to show that we are ready for a fight and we can deal with it.

“We prepared ourselves to go through periods like that, and I’m convinced the players are ready.”

With all due respect, I feel as if this isn’t necessarily the best approach to the problem. I’m all for finding a silver lining in most situations but Arsenal fans have just about had it with our medical room being filled to the brim with first team players on an annual basis.

Of course, I’m assuming that steps are being taken behind the scenes to find out why this keeps happening as although many of our injuries are impact-related, which can’t usually be helped, it does keep happening to us and there’s a definite pattern.

In addition, I feel as if saying it’s a ‘great challenge’ could be tempting the Football Gods a bit. I’m not a superstitious person by any means but please, let’s not tempt them.