. Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has given the team news ahead of today’s visit to the Vicarage Road to take on Watford. The Gunners have been fortunate enough to not lose any player to injury during the international break and a couple of first-team players also return to the squad following spells on the sidelines.
Reliable central defender Laurent Koscielny will undergo a late fitness test, with midfield duo of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini now available for selection.
Arteta and Flamini will be certainly available for selection – Arsene Wenger
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, as quoted by the club’s official website, Wenger said:
“The only thing today is Koscielny has a definite test to see if he is available or not. At the time Arteta and Flamini will be certainly available for selection. We have three players who could come back and be available again and I dona t think we lost anybody from our last game.”
Arsenal FC superstar Alexis Sanchez, who played both the games during the international break for his national team, scoring thrice, is a doubt for the clash. But, given the propensity of the former FC Barcelona man to stay on the field, it’s hard to see him missing the clash. Sanchez has scored 9 goals in his last five appearances for club and country.
The return of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini will give Arsene Wenger plenty of options in midfield, especially in light of the crucial midweek Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich. Laurent Koscielny will also probably not be risked, so that the Frenchman is available in good shape for the clash against the Bavarians. Koscielny has been Arsenal FC’s most reliable defender in recent times and Wenger would want to have the services of the 30-year-old to count on against Munich.