Arsenal Suffer New Injury Blows Ahead Of Burnley Clash

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Burnley at the Emirates on Saturday, Arsene Wenger gave his traditional update on the team when the spoke to the media on Friday.

The manager said: “It is very short term. Wilshere got a kick on his knee. I don’t know if Tuesday will be too early but certainly fit for Swansea.”According to the manager all the players that featured against Sunderland are expected to be fit to face Burnley, although, the club is still sweating over the hip injury Kieran Gibbs picked up at the Stadium of Light last weekend. The 25 year old is expected to face a late fitness test to ascertain his state of readiness, if he ends up not being able to play, Nacho Monreal is expected to play is his natural left back position. While suspended Jack Wilshere was expected to return to the side after serving his one match ban as a result of picking five cautions, but Arsene Wenger has confirmed he would miss the visit of the Clarets after he was kicked on the knee in training.

On the other hand, the manager also confirmed that Theo Walcott is not entirely ready to start, which means the England international would have to make do with a place on the bench on Saturday. The club seems to be adopting a very cautious approach to Walcott’s competitive return to the side, as there is no particular pressure to play him because there are players who can and have stood in for him in his absence.

However, there is good news as Yaya Sanogo makes a return to the squad after spending almost two months out of the side. His last appearance came in the match against Leicester City in August. The French Under-21 international has been troubled by a hamstring issue for several months, and his return to the side is timely as Danny Welbeck can now take a breather in some matches by being rested or substituted early when a game is already won.

Arsene Wenger still took time out to give an update on Abou Diaby and Serge Gnabry. He confirmed that the German was ahead of Abou Diaby in terms of fitness. And that Diaby is still short.  “Gnabry is closer than Diaby fitness-wise. He is a couple of weeks away.”

What is clear from the Abou Diaby situation is that it is looking particularly grim for the French midfielder as the much talked about possibility of him staying fit in the last year of his contract has failed to materialise. And it is looking increasingly likely that these are the last days of Abou Diaby’s time as an Arsenal player, because he does not even have to play again before he gets injured, a sad one for the club and the player.

The other long term injury absentees in Laurent Koscielny, Mathieu Debuchy and Mesut Ozil remain out of the side, and are not expected to feature for some time, but the club has been handed a boost as Arsene Wenger confirmed that Oliver Giroud would return after the next international because he is way ahead of schedule.

“Giroud’s three weeks ahead of schedule and will train after the next international break.”

The 28 year old was initially ruled out until the New Year after he picked up a fractured tibia against Everton in August. His likely return to training would have seen him shave off almost two months from his recovery period.

Good times for the club as the injury situation gradually ease up.

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