Taken from http://www.goodplaya.com/new/?p=146

Regurgitated news: Djourou reckons he will be fit for Man U

I PASS this on not as any kind of exclusive but because I can’t remember seeing it elsewhere and I imagine a fair of you were anxious to know:Matt Scott of the Guardian was on the radio this afternoon and said he spoke to the player at Wembley on Saturday and Djourou reckons he will be back for United.

Great news. But will he be slotted stright back in to the team, having been on the sidelines for a couple of weeks? My reckoning is that he will, at the expense of Sylvestre.

This really is great news, if it's true.

I really hope this is true, Silvestre is a walking liability.

Poor Fabianski totally took the blame for the Drogba goal at the weekend, I didn't see Silvestre breaking a sweat putting him under any pressure.

It surely is good news if true. Though Djourou tends to need a couple of games to find his rhythm he is undoubtably preferable to Silvestre. He is quicker, arguably better in the air and has a better understanding with Kolo.

I really, really hope that this is the case. Silvestre shouldn't be anywhere near that game if we can help it, I just hope that if he is declared fit he is actually sharp enough to play in a CL semi final effectively.

Anyone heard anything about Almunia and whether he has any chance of being fit in time??

EDIT: Seen the Manu quote now, shame he ain't back earlier...

If Djourou is fit and Wenger plays him at Centre Back then I reckon he will play Silvestre at left Back instead of Gibbs.

I don't know if I'm that relieved to have Djourou back. He still hasn't quite convinced to me that he can handle such a big game, although he does appear to work better with Toure.

Stumbled across this

Injured Djourou to miss Switzerland-Italy match
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2 ... 7315_x.htm

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Arsenal defender Johan Djourou will miss Switzerland's friendly against world champion Italy on Wednesday because of a knee injury. The 22-year-old defender has returned to London to see the Gunners' medical staff after his left kneecap became inflamed in training, the Swiss Football Association said Tuesday. "We don't wish to take an unnecessary risk before the start of his club's league season," Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. Arsenal begins its Premier League program Saturday away to Everton, and travels to face Celtic in the first leg of the final Champions League qualifying round next Tuesday.

Just flipping marvelous. Lets hope its minor.

edit: on the Swiss football website also: http://www.football.ch/de/start.aspx?vNews=1&newsID=8

hopefully it increases pressure on wenger to bring in another quality cb. probably wont though!

Djourou back at Arsenal
Swiss defender returns to Emirates for treatment
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 01,00.html

Johan Djourou has returned to Arsenal for treatment after picking up a knee injury while on international duty. Defender Djourou has been released from the Switzerland squad to return to the Emirates for treatment on a knee injury The 22-year-old is suffering from inflammation in his left kneecap and will miss Wednesday's friendly against Italy in Basle as a precaution. Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told the Swiss FA's official website: "We don't want to take an unnecessary risk shortly before the start of his club's season." Arsenal have yet to comment on the seriousness of the injury.

He's out for a month according to Wenger.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/injury-news

JOHAN DJOUROU
August 13
Johan has picked up a knee injury and will be out until September. "Johan has a knee problem that will take some time to cure - one month," said Wenger.

Confirmation. This is getting ridiculous.

Djourou out for 6 MONTHS!
http://goonertalk.com/2009/09/05/djouro ... -6-months/

Arsenal defender Johan Djourou will be missing for six months, L’Équipe has revealed. The 22-year-old Swiss international was expected to return later to the squad later month, but Djourou has been forced to get his troublesome knee cartilage problem operated on which means he will be on the sidelines for six months. Although Djourou’s injury is a massive blow to Arsenal, they can count themselves lucky as his fellow compatriot Philippe Senderos is still available as back-up at centre-half. Senderos was close to leaving the club this season, though it looks like he will be needed now, along with former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre.

Arsenal’s centre-back options: Alex Song, Mikael Silvestre, Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Kyle Bartley, Gavin Hoyte.

Well nothing confirmed on the official site yet, terrible news if true. He's now firmly third choice and it would leave us only Silvestre (cringe at the thought) or Senderos who doesn't really want to be at the club, understandably given his position in the pecking order. I don't count Song he's our only defensive midfielder. We could be stuffed if we were to lose either of the main pair.

Please let this not be true. The lad has had enough injuries (like many at Arsenal) that have held him back and disrupted his development. With any luck if he is to be missing for a while then it won't be as long as half a year.

His absence really does leave us light at the back though and that is a worry. Let's just hope that the rest of our defence manage to stay fit and healthy.

Come back soon Johan my man.

This is EXACTLY why we needed another centre back. We all know that Gallas and Vermaelen will more than likely get injury's this season. What if they get injured at the same time? We could really challenge this season if we just had the bloody depth.