Arsenal Football Club

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60432

Wenger hopes for clean bill

11 Nov 2009 - 13:20:40

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Arsene Wenger is keeping his fingers crossed that the latest round of international games are kind on the fitness of his Arsenal players.

Several Gunners players will be involved in France's World Cup qualifying play-off against the Republic of Ireland with the likes of William Gallas, Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna all named in the squad.

Meanwhile, his cosmopolitan squad will be in action in all four corners of the globe before they reconvene for Premier League action with a trip to Sunderland on November 21.

The international break has arrived at precisely the wrong moment for Wenger with the Gunners currently in the midst of a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

"Traditionally November has not been a good month for us," Wenger told the club's official website. "But I explain that by the fact we had more injuries, it is the first period when they kick in.

"It depends on the fixtures too - you can have two or three difficult games in November. You have decisive games in the Champions League and the players go on international duty.

"Now we have that break and all the players fly away so let's hope they all fly back in good shape. After that we go to Sunderland and that is always a difficult place to go."