Alexandre Lacazette has returned to full training ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Sheffield United on Monday night.
The French international has been sidelined with an ankle problem, and last played on September 1st in the 2-2 draw with Sp*rs at the Emirates.
However, his return to training may not mean an instant return to first team action, with the club’s medical staff set to make a decision on his participation for Monday’s game in the coming days.
Elsewhere, Emile Smith Rowe has recovered from his concussion, but he’s more likely to be in consideration for the Europa League clash with Vitoria next Thursday rather than the Sheffield United clash.
The club also confirmed that a behind closed doors friendly took place this week for ‘all non-international first-team squad players, apart from Alex Lacazette’.
The Gunners drew 2-2 with the Royals, and there were no issues following that. Assessments will now be made on the players who were away on Interlull duty but there are no reports of any problems at this stage.
Am I right in saying we actually have ZERO injuries right now?
Nelson is injured, but everyone else looks fine.
Sheffield United away? That’s got Ozil back spasm written all over it.
Who?
That’s as close as we’ve ever been to a completely fit first team
Anyone else thinking of the gif of Napoleon Dynamite’s Brother??
I wouldn’t rush him. I’d rather a fit Laca for the rest of the season than rush him for this game and lose him for a month.
I’m more than happy with Auba up top, and either of Pepe, Saka and Martinelli on the wings.
The not rush him phase was what he was sidelined for already.
Our next game is away at Sheffield. They are a tough side and our away record is bad. We need all the help we can get.
here’s to praying xhaka gets sick between now and monday
The answer is the transfer window. Get a better pivot with the physical and technical abilities not found in Xhaka and Torreira.
And yet, whenever Torreira plays with Uruguay, as a holding midfielder, he is impressive. Of course, for Uruguay he doesn’t often make late dashes into the opponent’s penalty area.
You’re a moron!
I’d be lying if I said the thoughts of a season long niggling injury to Xhaka hadn’t crossed my mind. Maybe one of those bothersome ankle sprains or a hammy that need an off season to get it back to full health. I’m just being honest…the thought has passed through my mind and I’ve always [well usually, well sometimes at least…] tried to squash it back down to the dark recesses it came from.
I’d rather he picked up his yellow cards and got suspended. Then his replacement is too good to drop.
Well I mean I’d prefer him to just get dropped, but doesn’t seem to be happening. His replacements (willock to CM and torreira to DM) have been too good too drop when they’ve played, but we still get xhaka every game in the league don’t we.
Man if a front 3 of Auba, Pepe and Saka/Martinelli isn’t strong enough then we deserve to lose.
It’s not in attack that will determine our result, it’s defensively. If we’re solid at the back we’ll win, if we make silly individual errors playing out from the back then we’ll probably drop points.
We’re arsenal, I want to see us take the game to them and put their defense under pressure from the first minute.
I wouldn’t mind playing Willock/Ceballos/AMN on one of the wings to be a bit more solid in midfield.
Truth is we need to play fearlessly. Take the game to them and create chances and take our chances clinically. If you inspire fear in teams, they will become over-cautious and make mistakes.
We seem to be the ones, being afraid, too cautious and making mistakes
And do it for 96 mins!
Need every help we could get, does that mean including Ozil
No.
Yes, tough side… we are scared…
I look at the squad and to imagine Laca is only just back from injury. We have an absolutely wonderful squad. I have been to Goal.com and I saw this thing they’ve been compiling, teams of the decade. If you look at Arsenal’s team of the decade in comparison to this current squad, you’d see why we didn’t do so well. Frankly, in hindsight, after seeing that team of the decade, I think it’s unbelievable what we managed to achieve in those years.
Unai needs to start milking this squad ASAP.
That team of the decade was a load of shite.
It didn’t even have Cesc in it.
Cesc? Ah, yes, the Arsenal idol with whom Arsenal won nothing.
He was pretty good though wasn’t he.
Scored a penalty against Barcelona with a broken leg. Not bad.
Slander, I won’t have it. Cesc is my favourite player.
Sure it didn’t have Cesc, but everyone who was picked in that midfield were part of the squad who broke our trophy drought. Can’t argue too much with that.
LANS
The Sheffield UTD game is exactly the kind of one we will lose. Pumped up physical and organised team playing well, away from home up north on a Monday night after an interlull. If Emery goes there will a full team and doesn’t set us up to take the initiative and we limp to another defeat he should be sacked on the spot. His position will become untenable. Unfortunately, based on historical evidence, I can’t see us changing the record.
Another defeat? We’ve only lost 1 away at Anfield
Please don’t rush him back, Unai!
I wonder if laca could be used in a bergkamp-esque role. Sure he’s not got the vision/passing skills, but he more than makes up for it with his work rate and finishing. I think playing auba or laca on the flanks is a waste.
Midfield and attack would looking something like:
Auba
Saka Laca Pepe
Torreira Guendouzi
It’s bold, but the more I look at it the more I like it. Only problem for me is it keeps Willock on the bench. Could you get away with Willock and Douzi in that formation? Maybe not eh?! Maybe Willock for Saka might actually bring some more balance and support to the midfield. Willock is really fast, I think he’d work well as that technical winger, while still being able to push on with attacking runs when needed.
Would a 442 not achieve the same thing?
Leno
Bellerin Holding Chambers Tierney
Pepe Torreira Guendouzi Saka/Willock
Lacazette Aubameyang
4-4-2 leads to giving up some control in midfield. Laca has the technique to play as a attacking midfielder.
Anyone else think Chambers should be our DM?