Arsene Wenger has confirmed that striker Lucas Perez will be out for up to two months with an ankle injury. However, there was positive news regarding Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Sunderland.
There was speculation regarding potential ankle ligament damage for Arsenal’s summer signing Lucas Perez after the Gunners’ midweek EFL Cup tie against Reading. Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed the fans’ worst fears in his pre-match press conference.
“We lost Perez,” Wenger said, according to the The Standard. “He’s out for a while with an ankle injury but hopefully he will recover but it will be six to eight weeks out.”
The news will come as a blow to the Spaniard, who spoke earlier in the week about how Wenger had asked him to be patient and take his chances when he gets them. Perez looked lively against Reading in midweek, but had to come off after a rash challenge by defender Danzell Gravenberch.
There is some good news for Arsenal fans though, as Wenger confirmed that both Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey will be in the squad. The Welshman has been out since the start of the August after picking up a hamstring injury in the opening day defeat to Liverpool. However, Wenger did not say how much of a part he would play in the game, stressing the need to be careful with the midfielder.
“I have to be a bit cautious, especially with Aaron Ramsey,” he said. “He has only had one week with the team so I will have to see.”
There are also doubts over Theo Walcott, Nacho Monreal and Santi Cazorla, all of whom will face late fitness tests to see if they can make the trip to the north-east. It is very likely that Wenger will name the same side that started against Middlesbrough. Of the three doubtful players, Cazorla is most likely to miss out after picking up an Achilles injury during Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Ludogorets.