Arsenal’s left back talks about his injury and how the team are playing.
ATVO: Ashley, let?s turn to the injury, how are you?
AC: It?s not too bad, I think it?s coming on, as we said at the start of it after the operation, 3 months, so I?ve got another month really to get back. Hopefully I?ll see the surgeon on Monday and I can take this boot off I can start working in the gym without the boot for maybe 2 weeks the then I?ll be on the pitches for another 2 to 2 and a half weeks and then I?ll be back, so hopefully in January I?ll be playing.
ATVO: How did the injury occur because I understand it?s very very rare?
AC: I don?t know, I can?t tell you , it?s a stress fracture and maybe it?s too much stress on that part of the foot, I don?t kick with my right foot but I must be doing some stress to it but it?s just one of those freak ones [accidents] I think.
ATVO: You actually played with the injury for, was it 6 games or something?
AC: Yeah, I think it was 5-6 games I played with it, it was just like a small aching pain and I just thought I?d been kicked on it, I?d come in from training and ice it and I thought nothing of it but then at night it was like throbbing and that and the physio said I think we should scan it because he didn?t want to get me too scared and then he said to me you?ve broke it. I think they did the best thing, they gave me a scan but it came back fine, it just said bruising , then the doctor showed the x-ray to another doctor and he said I think we should have another x-ray just to prove it and that he thought I had a stress fracture, so in the end they uncovered it and came out with the right decision.
ATVO: Is it the worst injury you?ve had in your playing career? because it seems that you?re a player that?s not injured allot.
AC: Yeah, I?ve been out [before] with my medial for like a month, I?ve hernia trouble for maybe a month, and of course this now for 3 months so not too injury prone, but this is more of a nagging one because you know when they say 3 months it could be longer or it could be less so it is a frustrating one.
ATVO: Then Gael Clichy goes and does exactly the same thing, that?s incredible isn?t it?
AC: Yeah, it?s crazy, I said to the surgeon , will I have a chance of breaking it again? and he said, no, in 35 years he?d never seen it, and a month later Gael did the same thing , so for me I?m a little bit scared, but I?ve just got to get on with and, touch wood, it won?t happen to me [again]
ATVO: Have you seen Pascal? He?s the 3rd left back, how?s he doing? It?s a tough job but he seems to be coping.
AC: Yeah, I think it?s always [going to be] hard for him, if you asked me to go and play centre back I would struggle as well but I think Pascal is doing well, I think a few fans are on his back probably , but I think they should leave him alone a bit, it?s not his position and I think the more people get on his back the worse he?s going to play so if they help him out he?s going to play better, he?s defended well and as I?ve said it?s hard for him, but Sol?s looking after him and we?re winning as well so it don?t really matter too much.
ATVO: On a scale of one to ten, how good a spectator are you when you?re injured?
AC: Eeerrrr, probably about a 5 or 6, it?s quite hard to watch your team, of course it?s good that they?re winning so it?s not so bad but in a few games when the opposition has chances it?s quite scary , but again, we?re playing well, scoring goals and that?s the main thing.
ATVO: Now I?m not saying it?s connected of course, but in the last 10 games Arsenal have won 9 and drawn 1, and you?re not playing , so they?re doing well.
AC: [With a smile] As I said, I knew they?d do well, they?ve got cover, Pascal is good enough to do a job there and the players coming in are doing well and of course Robin playing really well and scoring some great goals so it?s looking good.
ATVO: Finally, Liverpool went up to 4th place last night , that means the top 4 is Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool, this is when it really starts isn?t it? The title race.
AC: Yeah I think over the Christmas period you have you have 3 or 4 games, I think if you come away with at least 3 wins out of that then you?re looking really well over Christmas. As I?ve said the boys are confident and playing really well and hopefully they can keep going.
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