After a two week gap we’re back to Premier League action tomorrow with an away trip to Swansea.
Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team news ahead of the game, and there are some bodies returning to the squad.
“Basically we have the same players available as last week,” he said, “plus Laurent Koscielny is coming back in the squad, Petr Cech is coming back.
“Mesut Ozil is back and Alexis Sanchez will be available again.”
However, Hector Bellerin remains sidelined with an ankle problem, which leaves the manager with a decision to make for this weekend, although the Spanard i’s expected to return for next week’s home clash with Burnley.
There was also an update on Theo Walcott who has been out since the 2-1 defeat to Man City on December 18th.
“Walcott is still out, he’s one who doesn’t come back,” he said. “He’s now out for three and a half weeks, now.
“He will not be available for Burnley as well, but he’ll need at least one more week.
“He had a little calf problem, but he wasn’t comfortable when he started training again, so we pulled him out.”
Great to see some coming back, and Hector a probable for next week. We need a good winning run from now to get back in the race and this can only help. Odd about Theo though, hope it’s not one of those back in 3 weeks sagas.
Fortunately the squad is large enough and will become too many once Welbeck, Walcott are back.
Midfield more of a problem, we need to get our Coq out (on the pitch) again.
We re really missing Santi in d midfield
Been saying that ever since he got injured. Combo of santi and coq in midefield was perfect. Coq gets the ball back, santi can play the tip tap football out he back line. The amount of times not only santi can play the ball out to start a fast counter (remember this has been gooners game for years) he evolved into this little Denis wise who can scrap to win ball back! Xhaka good replacement but he plays lot more long balls! COYG
mustafi needs to sort his shit out
The undefeated (in half a season) Mustafi?
Nope, Mustafi just needs to keep his never lost in an Arsenal record going for another few months !
aaargh – “never lost in an Arsenal Shirt record” i meant to say
OK. Theo is starting to scare me now.
Cech
Hector Mustafi Kos Nacho
Cazorla Coq
Rambo Ozil Perez
Alexis
This is my dream…….and I don’t care if u disagree
Cazorla’s injured!
I think when someone says “this is my dream”, there’s an assumption there that everyone is fit.
That said, I’d far rather see Walcott and Iwobi than Ramsey and Lucas on the wings in that “dream” line-up.
Definitely would be fine with Gabriel at RB in place of Bellerin (though didn’t know he was hurt again). This will probably be as fresh as squad as we’ve had for some time with both Ozil and Sanchez having some good time off as well as not having played for a week for the rest of the squad.
Bellerin shouldn’t be doing those NBA trick shot videos if he’s injured.
Let the Corporal have a go, it’s Swansea and probably the last thing Clemet will expect.
No idea if he’s been playing but after the problems Montero has caused us over the last couple of games I’d be much more confident if Hector was fit.
If I was Arsene I’d be tempted to play Kos and Gabby at CB (everyone plays better with Kos) and shift Mustafi to RB (where he has played for Germany).
For some reason I don’t like the idea of Montero up against Gabriel…
Anyone reckon he might surprise us & go with AMN?
Disagree, Gabriel is much faster than Mustafi, and has done really well there in the games he’s played.
Agreed. gabriel and montero are both s.american. maybe gabriel is more attuned to how montero might move. Fuck knows.