Wenger - Many factors cause injuries

Arsene Wenger says there are a number of factors that cause injuries in modern football.

The Arsenal manager has welcomed back Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey in recent weeks, while Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott could be fit to face Sunderland. But Wenger will be without Santi Cazorla, Alexis and Francis Coquelin for some time after they suffered injuries in November.

"You could analyse many things: the pitches, the pace of the game, the intensity inside the game has gone up," he said. "But there are as well mental components, physiological components in injuries, emotions in your private life that can have an impact on muscular injuries.

"It’s not as rational and mathematical as people think. You try to master all the scientific aspects but there are as well some irrational factors in injuries sometimes. For example, Cazorla and Coquelin are traumatic injuries. What can you do about that? Nothing.

"Ideally you want them all to be with you but we are prepared to deal with it. It is a big miss with players like that but it is a opportunity for players to come in and fill in and show they have the quality and that they are fresh and that can give a good impact to the team."

Alexis suffered a hamstring injury at Norwich City last weekend but he was medically fit to play at Carrow Road.

"Alexis had four weeks holiday, he was rested in some games and had all the medical signs to say he was OK to play between Dinamo Zagreb and Norwich," said Wenger.

"Nobody suggested that he could displace his back or his hamstring. When he was pushed into the boards on the side of the field that did not shock anybody. That injury can come from that as well. I’m not expert enough to know but if you want to blame me I’m OK with it.

"I never force anyone to play. We are in a job where you need to give 100 per cent and to give 100 per cent you must feel absolutely confident and have confidence in your body. I don’t like to push players who are reluctant to play games."