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Arsenal stars top absentee list
- Updated: July 26, 2016
With the new Premier League campaign getting underway in less than three weeks’ time, we investigate just who is in danger of missing the opening weekend of the campaign.
Top-flight clubs are currently busy with pre-season preparations as they look to build up their squads’ fitness levels ahead of the big kick-off on the weekend of August 13-15.
However, many sides have had to contend with players coming back late after being involved in either the European championship in France or the Copa America in the US.
Meanwhile, other teams are having to cope with lengthening injury lists this summer before a ball has even been kicked in competitive anger.
All of which means that were the 2016/17 Premier League campaign to start today, these various first-team stars would be absent for one reason or another…
Arsenal
Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Sanchez, Welbeck (injured); Ramsey, Koscielny, Ozil, Giroud (rest); Gnabry, Asano (Olympics); Gabriel (illness)Arsene Wenger likes to give his players plenty of rest after major tournaments, meaning the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez may all miss the season opener at home to Liverpool, which is live on Sky Sports on August 14.
The Gunners are also likely to be without Per Mertesacker, Carl Jenkinson and Danny Welbeck through injury, while both Serge Gnabry and Takuma Asano will be representing their countries at the Olympics as well.
Hull City
Bruce, Dawson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Maguire, McGregor, Odubajo (injured)
Whoever replaces Steve Bruce at the KC Stadium will face a lengthy injury list for the club’s opening fixture of the season at home to Leicester City on August 13.
The newly promoted Tigers have seven players on the treatment table at present, with none set to be available for the visit of the champions next month.
Liverpool
Gomez, Lucas, Matip, Smith, Sakho (injured); Ilori (Olympics)
If Liverpool’s season opener at Arsenal were played today, then coach Jurgen Klopp’s back four would be without Tiago Ilori – due to play at the Olympics – as well as Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Brad Smith (who is on his way to Bournemouth in any case), Mamadou Sakho and (makeshift defender) Lucas Leiva with injury.
Bournemouth
Afobe, Ake, Cook, Mings, Smith, Hyndman (injured)
Cherries boss Eddie Howe is in danger of missing six key players with various aches and pains when Jose Mourinho brings Manchester United to the South Coast for the first game of the campaign on August 14.
Tottenham Hotspur
Dembele (suspended); Vertonghen, Njie (injured); Son (Olympics)
Spurs will be unable to call upon the services of Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele and Son Heung-min when they travel to Everton on the opening Saturday of the season due to injury, suspension and involvement at the Olympics respectively.
Crystal Palace
McArthur, Sako, Tomkins, Zaha …
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