Arsenal were dealt a massive blow with news that Santi Cazorla could be out until March with a knee injury sustained against Norwich last weekend.
The title challengers thought they had found the perfect balance at the base of their midfield, which solved their creative and defensive problems at the position. Francis Coquelin offered the muscle while Santi Cazorla was there to engineer chances for the potent Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
Both Coquelin and Cazorla are now sidelined for months with knee injuries and Arsenal’s title challenge could be on the rocks yet again.
Manchester United were dealt a blow with news that Wayne Rooney would miss this weekend’s clash against West Ham at Old Trafford with a ‘nasty’ ankle injury. More importantly, Rooney will also miss their midweek clash with Wolfsburg to decide who claims top spot in their Champions League group with a loss putting United in danger of being eliminated from the competition.
Despite Rooney’s poor form, United have left themselves thin on the ground up front having allowed Chicarito and Adnan Januzaj leave during the summer. Memphis Depay has struggled to adapt and Anthony Martial can’t sustain a title challenge by himself. Louis van Gaal will have to reinvent his attacking midfield as Ander Herrera is also injured and will be forced to put an attacking midfield player into the striker position to compensate for Rooney's injury.
In other news, Liverpool could be bolstered with news that Philippe Coutinho could return from a hamstring injury in time to face Newcastle on Sunday.
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