Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has given updates on his team ahead of the crunch clash against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Gunners come on the back of a shock defeat to Olympiakos in the second round of group stage fixtures of the UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal FC will be without the services of club captain Mikel Arteta, who is still nursing a hamstring injury. However, the biggest blow for the North London outfit will be the absence of Laurent Koscienly from their ranks, who strained his hamstring during the clash against Olympiakos and is expected to be sidelined for another three weeks.
Mathieu Flamini, who starred in last week’s win over Tottenham Hotspur is yet to recover from the hamstring injury picked up by him in the win over Leicester City. The Gunners will be boosted by the return of combative midfielder Francis Coquelin, who returned from injury to start against the Greek side in Champions League.
Laurent Koscielny will certainly be out – Wenger
Manager Arsene Wenger came under immense scrutiny for his decision to start David Ospina ahead of summer signing Petr Cech in the must win game against Olympiakos, but the Frenchman reiterated that the Czech international was not 100% fit for the clash. However, the 33-year-old has returned to full fitness and is expected to return in goal against the Red Devils.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by the club’s official website, Wenger said:
.
“Laurent Koscielny will certainly be out, he has a hamstring strain and it looks like it will be three weeks, something like that.”
When asked about the availability of midfielders Arteta and Flamini, Wenger added:
“Both are out.”
However, the 65-year-old had some good news ahead of Sunday’s clash.
“Francis should be okay for Sunday, yes.”