Lauren revealed today that he has experienced one of the worst periods in his career in the last seven weeks. The Arsenal defender has been forced to endure a spell of inactivity-through suspension and injury which he found particularly hard to take.
With the exception of what was effectively a reserve team game in the Carling Cup at West Bromwich on 16 December, Lauren has been out of action since early November.
Few players handle time on the sidelines well, and missing Champions League and Premiership games at an important time in the season would grind with most.
But it left a particularly sour taste for Lauren because he felt his punishment for the Old Trafford melee earlier this season was harsh.
The Cameroon international received a four game ban and a £40,000 fine from the Football Association for pushing Ruud van Nistelrooy and grabbing Phil Neville.
He was penalised more severely than team-mates Ashley Cole, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira and was apparently least happy at his club’s decision not to appeal because of the potential for distraction to the team.
The 26-year-old has been pencilled in for his Premiership return at Southampton tonight and that should signal the beginning of a happier time.
Lauren said: « I cannot wait to put it all behind me. It was the worst period I have had since I have been here.
« It has been a long time for me not to be playing regularly. I had a four game ban and then a knee injury so it has been very difficult. »
Lauren was unavailable when Arsenal salvaged their European campaign and qualified for the next stage. The 5-1 win at Internazionale is now part of the club’s folklore and being absent for that and the clinching Champions League group game against Lokomotiv Moscow at Highbury must be a regret.
« I have never been out for as long as that before and it was all new to me but I am a professional, » Lauren said.
« Everything is in the past now and I just want to concentrate on playing and getting back to my best. » Lauren said he will not rush back to the Premiership if he does not feel fully fit but manager Arsene Wenger has indicated that he believes the robust defender is ready.
Lauren’s return tonight would bring a re-shuffle at the back for Arsenal with Kolo Toure being reinstated at centre-back and Pascal Cygan the most likely to make way. Wenger said Cygan does not have the pace of Sol Campbell or Toure, but he has finally started to look at home in the six Premiership games that Lauren has missed.
Arsenal remained unbeaten in that time and have now gone 18 games without defeat. One of Arsenal’s six league defeats last season was inflicted at St Mary’s when Campbell was sent off in a 3-2 reverse.
Wenger said: « To do what we’ve already done in the Premiership this season isn’t easy. But now let’s see how we do at Southampton. Arsenal’s Ashley Cole is suspended for the game and 18-yearold Gael Clichy is set to continue in his place at left-back
Southampton hope to have striker Marian Pahars (thigh) and midfielder Rory Delap (ankle) back, but Graeme Le Saux is again ruled out by hamstring trouble.
By Leo Spall
