Arsenal have very few injury worries as they head into a London derby against West Ham United.
The Gunners have most of their crucial first team players fit and ready to take on the Hammers on Saturday. However a number of fringe players are dealing with injury issues. French striker Olivier Giroud is unfit for the game, while Mathieu Debuchy and Danny Welbeck are also out of action.
“I thought that Giroud might be available for Saturday, but he might not be available for tomorrow. Certainly for Tuesday [in Basel], he will be available,” said Wenger, according to the official club website.
The Frenchman also stated that Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny had recovered from sickness after the last game, and English forward Danny Welbeck was still four weeks away from full recovery.
French defender Mathieu Debuchy was also injured in Arsenal’s last game against Bournemouth, and Wenger has said he’ll be out for at least six weeks.
“It’s a severe hamstring injury. Six weeks, I think. It’s frustrating for me, but even more for him because he fights very hard. He is a guy who has an exceptional attitude and is very serious,” said Wenger.
One of the big players missing for Arsenal is right-back Hector Bellerin, who picked up a groin injury just ahead of the international break in November.
The number nine and number ten for the Gunners are a sure thing. Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez has excelled in his new role as a striker, while German Mesut Ozil is the best attacking midfielder in the side.
The two English wingers in Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been in good form lately, especially the former. They are set to flank Ozil, and will be ahead of a probable central midfield pair of Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka.
In the absence of both Mathieu Debuchy and Hector Bellerin, Arsenal will turn to Carl Jenkinson to shore up right-back. The central defence partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi pretty much picks itself, while Nacho Monreal is first choice left-back.
The Premier League veteran and former Chelsea man Petr Cech is the number one keep at the Emirates, without a doubt.
