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Team News: Wenger Eases Wilshere Fears, Rosicky Boost

By on September 30, 2013

We welcome Napoli to the Emirates tomorrow for the second game in Group F of the Champions League.

We sit level on points with the Italians after we both won our opening games 2-1 against Marseille and Borussia Dortmund respectively. Another win on Tuesday and we’ll be in excellent shape.

Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com a team news and injury update and the good news is that Tomas Rosicky is back in the squad and in contention to start.

The Czech international hasn’t featured since our 1-0 win over Tottenham back on the 1st September and his return couldn’t come sooner with the likes of Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Yaya Sanogo all out injured.

Hopefully Santi and Theo will be back after the next international break but having Rosicky in the squad gives us a valuable option in attack that we haven’t had for weeks.

There were also reports circulating on Monday morning that claimed Jack Wilshere was a doubt for the game after apparently picking up an ankle knock against Swansea at the weekend. However, Arsene has eased those fears after confirming that everyone from Saturday’s squad is available for the Napoli game. He said:

From Saturday’s squad everybody is available. Rosicky is back into the squad for tomorrow and is available again. He has recovered from his hamstring injury.

on having Rosicky back…

He can play in all the offensive positions and I’m very happy that he’s back because he is very influential in our game. I haven’t decided who will start and who will not start. But I’m very happy that he’s back in the squad.

With Rosicky available again, it begs the question whether he’ll come straight back in. Personally, I think if he’s fit enough he should definitely start. Practically the same 11 players have been playing week-in, week-out and we could do with some fresh legs.

I said in my earlier post about my preferred starting eleven that I felt Serge Gnabry should be the man to drop out as he’s played a lot of football in the last week for one so young. His body won’t be used to playing 75 minutes versus Stoke, 120 minutes against WBA and 75 minutes against Swansea in 7 days, so let’s give him a well earned rest and start Rosicky on the right.

What would be your starting eleven for the game now that Rosicky is back?

6 Comments

  1. Abu Rahman

    September 30, 2013 at 11:00 pm

    A good one there but i think Gnabry should start and maybe later withdraw for Rosicky. The young man seem to have the brute power to play. He is just 18 and again TR is just back from injury and may lack real match fitness.

  2. georzu

    September 30, 2013 at 11:17 pm

    Let thomas start,it wil be boost 4 AFC…..rest gnabry.

  3. Sylvia Martins

    September 30, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    Napoli is nt an easy team so Rosicky can start

  4. dukeofarsenal Malaysia

    October 1, 2013 at 12:20 am

    TR should be in later part of the game give Gnarby the opening part then replace him, me thinks.

    GoGunners4Eva

  5. Asab

    October 1, 2013 at 3:16 am

    I don’t think Gnabry is eligible to play in the champions league because he is not in the 25 man squad

  6. Boyd

    October 1, 2013 at 7:48 am

    TR to start. I fancy the gunners going past Napoli anyday. ITS GOONER BE 3.1.

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