Home Premier League Arsenal Wenger keeping an eye on Mandzukic

Wenger keeping an eye on Mandzukic

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The Denmark international underwent a scan on Friday to determine whether he has torn or strained ligaments in his right ankle.

Club medics will receive full confirmation of Bendtner’s injury on Saturday morning.

Initially, manager Arsene Wenger was hopeful the 25-year-old would miss just three weeks, but there were fears on Friday that his time on the sidelines could be longer.

If the scan shows torn ligaments, then Bendtner will be out for around two months.

And should that prove to be the case then Wenger admits he will have to delve into the transfer market to bolster his already thin options up front.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been watched by Gunners scouts, while there is also a firm interest in taking Real Madrid youngster Alvaro Morata on loan.

Sportsmail understands Arsenal are also monitoring Mario Mandzukic at Bayern Munich.

The Croatian is rated highly by scouting staff and with Robert Lewandowski set to arrive on a controversial free transfer at the Allianz Arena ahead of next season, Mandzukic’s future is under question.

But any deal for the 27-year-old is unlikely to be explored this month.

‘My transfer plans depend on how long Bendtner will be out for,’ admitted Wenger, whose side host bitter rivals Spurs in the FA Cup this evening.

‘At the moment we are just considering our options. I must confess they are quite restricted.

‘If it’s months rather than three weeks, then we would have to think about buying.’

Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood says the Gunners face another problem in the striking department in the shape of Emmanuel Adebayor.

The former Gunner has declared himself fit for a return to the Emirates after being stretchered off at Old Trafford.

Adebayor scored the opener in the 2-1 victory against Manchester United on New Year’s Day – his fourth goal in five games – and Sherwood was full of praise.

‘There are certain players you look to see if they are playing when the team sheet comes in,’ he said.

‘I did that at Old Trafford to see straight away if Wayne Rooney’s playing and I’m sure Arsenal will do the same with Adebayor.

‘It says a lot about him that he is obviously under some stress when he came off on the stretcher.

‘He was in real pain and couldn’t walk, was getting cramped up everywhere.

‘For him to put himself in the frame for another huge game – he knows how big this game is.

‘He’s played in enough of them, so for him to put himself in the frame for this is real credit to him.’

Adebayor was sent off at Arsenal in November 2012 just minutes after he had opened the scoring as Spurs lost 5-2 under their previous manager Andre Villas-Boas.

But Sherwood insists he is a reformed character now that he has been welcomed back into the first team, saying: ‘Adebayor is cleverer than people think. He realises and he learns from his mistakes.

‘It was a 50-50 at Arsenal that day and it could have gone either way whether he got sent-off, so he might have been a bit unfortunate.

‘I’m sure he’s learned from that and let’s keep our fingers crossed he stays on all the game.

‘He is a good character around the place, a total professional and is really focused on game to game.’

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below 🙂

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