Giroud should start on the bench with Aaron Ramsey
also returning to the squad, but Wenger has already said that he will be cautious with both of them, but they may come on for the last 20 minutes to get a gentle run out.
After missing the Moscow trip due to illness, Granit Xhaka may
also return to the squad whilst Jack Wilshere may be given a rest, after picking up a knock in Russia.
Jérémy Mathieu
also return to the squad after missing out during the midweek.
Calum Chambers is also training with the squad but is not expected to feature at Man City, so will
also return to the squad after the interlull.
Not exact matches
Now a report in the Star is indicating that our 42 million man Mesut Ozil will
also be
returning to the
squad for the same match, although it is unlikely that Wenger would risk him for the full game.
Three Arsenal players — Debuchy, Giroud and Ozil — look set
to be out of action until the turn of the year, at least, which means that Wenger has been handed a serious kick up his backside, with a small
squad at the start of the season further shortened by this injury pileup that
also sees Ramsey, Arteta, Diaby, Monreal and Sanogo not yet fit
to return.
Aaron Ramsey certainly hopes and thinks so, and the Welshman
also reckons that the
return of our big French striker
to the
squad will play a big part in making sure that the three good performances against Man United, Borussia Dortmund and West Brom is not another false start, as an Arsenal.com report explains.
The Spanish giants lost a whole host of big names from their
squad last summer as well, with Chelsea again benefitting as they brought in Diego Costa and Filipe Luis, while Thibaut Courtois
also returned to Stamford Bridge after three years on loan at the Vicente Calderon, making him almost like a new signing as well.
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This of course means that when those two
return to the
squad the only two long term injuries we will have left is Mathieu Debuchy, who was hardly part of the first team
squad anyway, and the little Spaniard Santo Cazorla, who Wenger
also mentioned in today's team news as he looked chipper from his hospital bed after his operation the other day.
Arsenal's injury situation is slowly improving, with Santi Cazorla not too far away and Mohammed Elneny
also set
to return to the
squad.
What has been confirmed though, is that he has not just been pulled out of training, but he has
also been replaced in the U21
squad by Javier Manquillo, and the youngster will be
returning to the Emirates for treatment.
Santi Cazorla, Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Debuchy are
also sidelined, but Danny Welbeck and Shkodran Mustafi could be in line for a
return to the playing
squad.
Jesus was in tears as he left the pitch at Crystal Palace on New Year's Eve with a knee injury, but it looks as though he'll
return in time
to play his part at the business end of the season while
also staking his claim for a place in the Brazil
squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
With Ramsey no closer
to returning to the
squad, there is every chance that Coquelin will
also play on Thursday against high - flying Southampton.
Arteta could still have a place in the
squad if he's willing
to accept a bit - part role, but with Real Sociedad understood
to be willing
to offer him a
return to Spain, he could
also be heading for the exit door.
Danny Welbeck has
returned to training after seven months out but this game might come too soon for him, and Wenger has
also suggested a couple of members of his
squad are suffering with flu.
Now we
also have the possibility of Carl Jenkinson
returning to the
squad as well, since Wenger today ruled out selling him in this transfer window.
There is
also Serge Gnabry, who has just
returned from a long term injury and could
return to the
squad after playing 10 games for the Gunners last season, and is very highly respected as an all - rounder.
I thought that the BFG had his best game for us in a long time.I am normally quick
to criticise the guy but respect
to the guy he was excellent last night.I
also hope Gabriel has a quick
return back
to the
squad he has a lot
to learn about the premier league
Glad
to hear Wilshere and Lacazette are back, but I hope they can
also make Maitland - Niles and Nelson
return to the
squad as well
On - loan Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj is
also pushing for a place in the
squad having
returned to training, but David Moyes admits the game could come too soon for fellow Belgian Jason Denayer.
Sunderland man Giaccherini, who has
returned to the Italy fold under Conte after being left out of Cesare Prandelli's
squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has
also been back in first team action for the Black Cats at the start of this season after falling out of favour under Gus Poyet at the back end of the last campaign.
Arteta leaving has left a space in the holding midfield role, which has now been taken by Xhaka, and we
also have Jack Wilshere
returning to the
squad after a year out, not
to mention Ramsey, Cazorla and Coquelin (and maybe the Ox?)
We are all hopeful that Alexis Sanchez will
return to the side, but the latest injury news is suggesting that Danny Welbeck will
also be
returning to the
squad.
Mikel Arteta and Matthieu Flamini
also return from injury so Wenger really has a big
squad to choose from tomorrow, but I have a feeling after his comments earlier, that he intends
to play his best team except for Sanchez and I think it's time
to give Giroud a confidence booster for at least the first half of the match, so I'm going
to predict......
Kiko Femenía should
also return to the Hornets» matchday
squad after missing the West Brom game due
to sickness.
Mark Noble and Sam Byram
return to the
squad after suspension and apparently Robert Snodgrass and Sofiane Feghouli are
also available again (if anyone is interested).
The 27 - year - old
also talked about the team spirit currently surrounding the
squad since his
return back
to the Arsenal camp with forward insisting that the present
squad looked really solid.
However, the injury didn't seem
to hamper him too much as when he
returned, he picked up right where he left off and helped the Reds
to a League Cup and Europa League double, whilst
also being named in the Premier League
squad of the season.
Cesar Azpilicueta was left out of the matchday
squad altogether last weekend, and the Spaniard could be expected
to return to the backline, which may
also feature Gary Cahill and Andreas Christensen.
With a number of key players
also leaving or
returning to their parent clubs from loan deals, Zubeldia was faced with remolding an entire
squad and hasn't been afforded any sort of patience
to get things back on track after defeats
to Leganes, Barcelona, Celta Vigo and Villarreal.
We have
also got the
return of the Zog and I want
to see Caruthers around the first team
squad.
Manchester United have a mini injury crisis in midfield with Paul Pogba out with a hamstring injury, not knowing when he will
return to action, Marouane Fellaini suffering an ankle injury away
to Southampton on Saturday — not travelling
to Moscow on Monday, and Michael Carrick
also not travelling with the
squad.
Returning trio Charlie Austin, Pierre - Emile Højbjerg and James Ward - Prowse all impressed at the weekend, and with Oriol Romeu and Mario Lemina
also available for this evening, the boss is confident that the entire Saints
squad is ready
to contribute both here and
to a busy winter schedule.
Injuries have
also meant Jermaine Defoe and Marcus Rashford both
return to the
squad.
The English man has not appeared in any match since he sustained the injury last month in a match against Manchester City but is now fit
to return to the
squad, while Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Debuchy have
also returned to full training.
Borja Mayoral could
also return to be part of the
squad after his loan at Wolfsburg but he is unlikely
to push for a starting space.
The 23 - year - old has since been recovering with the Chelsea
squad but has yet
to make an appearance despite having
returned to training, leading Schalke
to revive interest that had
also seen them pursue a loan move in August.
They have of course played in the FA Cup during that time, progressing
to the quarter - finals with a comfortable 2 - 0 victory at home
to Blackpool, but
to all intents and purposes David Moyes has the exciting prospect of picking from a
squad that should be a lot fresher than that of his opposite number, one that will
also be boosted by the
return of several important figures, as Everton attempt
to extend their unbeaten league run
to six matches at Loftus Road.
Perez, who was signed by Arsenal last summer for # 17 million, has
also made it clear that he wants now
to return to Deportivo La Coruna, where he hopes that he can push for a place in Spain's World Cup
squad.