Injuries and Suspensions

Premier League team news - ESPN Soccernet

Here are the big news items hot (or at least semi-warm) off the presses:

• Bale back with what looks like a great match-up for attackers
• Piquionne/Ba are "doubts" with no explanation really given.
• Villa defense injury-riddled with Dunne, Collins, Young Luke, and Clark either injured or suspended.
• David Dunn is facing a late fitness test which, I'm pretty sure, will be the title of his autobiography if he ever writes one (and he should have a lot of time to write).
• Adam is back from suspension but DJ Campbell is still in the middle of his.
• Evans and Park back for ManYoo but Rio, Vidic, Fletch, O'Shea, and Rafael are all out - oh dear.
• Carew is likely out meaning Kenwyne Jones should get more of a chance to shine.
• Barton has returned to training but may or may not make the starting line-up so proceed with caution. 
• Brunt questionable with an illness (although they might be better off without the second half of the season version of Brunt).  Dorrans is definitely out and Vela won't be able to face Arsenal.
• Arsenal's injuries are pretty well documented but here they are: Szczesny, Fabianski, Djourou, Verm, Song, Theo, and Cesc.  Looks like it might be a high-scoring affair.
• Zigic, Bowyer, Bentley, and Fahey are all at least doubtful.
  
• Cahill may be fit for Everton but Arteta and Fellaini are still out.
  
• The Suarez/Carroll partnership looks like it will get its first chance to start together in the league while Gerrard, Kelly, Aurelio, and Shelvey are all out.

The big impacts are on the likelihood of ManYoo and Aston Villa clean sheets given all of the injuries to their respective back lines.  We never really expected Arsenal to get a clean sheet this weekend so that isn't really a surprise.  The other question mark becomes WHU's attack if Keane, Piquionne, and Ba are all out.