After suffering a morale shattering 3-2 loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Gunners welcome Swansea City to the Emirates in a crucial midweek tie.
Wenger will be resting striker Danny Welbeck, who started against Manchester United, for their midweek fixture against Swansea City. Welbeck returned from a 10 month layoff in spectacular fashion, scoring the winning goal in the top of the table clash against Leicester City. He also opened the scoring for Arsenal against his former club Manchester United, making it two goals in two games.
“I will have to see if I have to be cautious with Danny Welbeck or not. Medically I need advice on that and I will see,” said Wenger, according to the official Arsenal website.
The Frenchman also delivered an update on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was injured in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against Barcelona last week.
“[He will be out for] six to eight weeks. No surgery. We feared surgery at some stage before we saw the MRI. In the end we got, on that front, positive news,” he said.
“The next eight weeks means March and April. He should be OK for the Euros.”
In some good news for Wenger and the Gunners, midfielders Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere are making good progress with their recovery from long term injury. Both are expected to be fit for action sometime in the month of March.
Arsenal could field a very similar side to the one we saw against Manchester United, with Per Mertesacker in for the unimpressive Gabriel and Joel Campbell playing on the right wing instead of Welbeck.
For Swansea City, 26-year-old Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer could be handed his first appearance. Fer is on loan from Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
