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Wenger: Injuries 'coincidental'

Cape Town - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists the club's spate of injuries are "coincidental", rather than down to any shortcomings from the club's medical team.

The Gunners have suffered a raft of injuries to key players this term, notably Mesut Ozil (knee ligament), Mathieu Debuchy (broken ankle) and Olivier Giroud (broken foot).

The north London club had already endured a long history of injury setbacks, and the latest developments have once again raised concerns over the club's training and fitness techniques.

However, Wenger insists there could be no way to prepare for any of the aforementioned injuries.

"What is different (this season) is we have a bit more prevention than before for the players to prepare for the competition, and I think we have made progress," commented the Frenchman.

"(But) for us this season, we had big injuries and coincidental injuries.

"For example Giroud - I don't know what we can do about Giroud's injury? Debuchy was on his own when he did the ankle, then you have Ozil.

"(Do) you know how Ozil did the injury? Passing the ball with the outside left foot. He must have done that a million times.

"Ozil was on his own. He told me he just wanted to give the ball like that (flicked with the outside of his foot) and heard a little crack.

"There are a lot of post-World Cup injuries and not many soft tissue injuries."
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