According to Reuters:
Arsenal’s Cole faces lengthy lay-off after hernia surgery
LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - England and Arsenal fullback Ashley Cole underwent surgery to fix a hernia on Thursday and is likely to be out of action for several weeks.
Arsenal’s official website said that Cole had been suffering with the hernia all season but that it worsened after the club’s goalless away draw with Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Cole was examined on Thursday morning by Arsenal medical staff, who decided to proceed with the operation, which the club said was a success.
Cole will miss the premier league games against Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers, the FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea and the next Champions League match against AS Roma. He is also unlikely to have recovered in time for the final Champions League group game at Valencia on March 19.
One Response to “Ashley Out With Injury”
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February 27th, 2003 at 4:07 pm
This is not good news. Depth in defense - very little. Yeah, I guess Gio plays LB for Holland once in awhile, but I’m not convinced about him defensively. He plays left back like he’d rather be playing midfield. I’m worried that Cafu will torch him in two weeks.
Last year when this happened Wenger took to odd - at least to me - approach of moving Oleg Luzhny to LB. And you what? It worked. Unfortunately, Oleg’s most recent appearance this season was on the side of a milk carton, and even if he heals soon he’s unlikely to be match fit.
Here’s the part that’s a bit frustrating: we’ve got something like 27 midfielders, all of whom are or have been internationals, yet our cover in defense seems to consist of playing guys out of position, or Igors Stepanovs (pick your poison).