Bummed Out: Why Arsenal Should Be Relieved That Ribery Is Out Of Champions League Clash With Buttock Injury

Arsenal may be going strongly in the Premier League, ignoring the Liverpool result, but they are going to have to pull off something special if they are to overcome their Champions League competitors Bayern Munich – the current holders of the competition. They have been handed a boost ahead of the tie though, as Franck Ribery has been ruled out following surgery on his buttock. Yes, his buttock.

Laugh all you want, but it’s brilliant news for Arsenal and if I was a fan I would be excited about the news. I’ll tell you why.

For me the weakest part of the Arsenal squad is the full-back berths and that’s where the France international would be directly attacking. He was a massive part of Bayern’s terrific season last year and was rightly nominated to win the Ballon d’Or, and although he lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo, Ribery has continued his fine form this time round.

He has scored seven goals and created 40 chances, but he also has a 61% shot accuracy from his 38 shots and has a 60% success in his dribbles.

Him attacking Bacary Sagna, Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs or Nacho Monreal would end in disaster I think and the Gooners will feel a little bit easier without him travelling to the Emirates on the 19th.