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TEAM NEWS: Wenger On Wilshere, Koscielny, Kallstrom + Ramsey

By on March 7, 2014

The boss has been speaking at his press conference this morning ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup clash against Everton. Here’s the latest team news from Arsenal.com.

Obviously the hot topic today was the fitness of Jack Wilshere. The midfielders injury curse struck again as he broke a bone in his foot playing for England on Wednesday night and Arsene has confirmed it will be six weeks before the 22-year-old can start training again and a further two weeks before he’ll be back on the pitch.

If that prognosis proves accurate, it means Wilshere will only have a chance of featuring in our final two Premier League games of the season, and potentially any cup finals we may make it to. Its such a cruel blow for both club and player, but we should be getting used to this by now as our injury record has been a joke for over five years.

Arsene also confirmed that Laurent Koscielny is a doubt for this weekend after picking up a minor hamstring problem while away with France this week. The defender will have a late fitness test but it looks like we may see Thomas Vermaelen come in against the Toffees.

The only good news to come from today’s team news is that Aaron Ramsey and Kim Kallstrom are in-line to return to action against Tottenham next weekend.

Rambo has been out since Boxing Day with a thigh injury so with Jack out, his return couldn’t have come soon enough. We shouldn’t expect too much, too soon, though as he’s been out a while and I’d be surprised if he started against Spurs.

Kallstrom’s return means we also have another body in midfield to cover now that Jack’s missing, but I wouldn’t expect to see him feature too much unless we pick up another injury in the middle.

Here’s Arsene’s update:

on the team news…

Apart from Jack, we have a doubt about Koscielny who has come back with a hamstring problem and didn’t play for France. All the other players came back in a good shape.

on the chance of Koscielny playing…

His scan is clear but we will have to test him today.

on Wilshere playing again this season…

Yes [I expect him to]. There are 11 weeks to go, he will be out for six before he can absorb normal training. His injury will not stop him working on fitness so two weeks after [the first six weeks] he should be competitive. That means the maximum for him to be competitive in a game is eight weeks.

on the return of Ramsey and Kallstrom…

Aaron Ramsey is one week away. I think the next two games are coming too soon for him but for the weekend after [against Tottenham] he should be available. Kallstrom as well.

Hopefully the boss goes with his strongest side tomorrow as an FA Cup win would do wonders now that the Premier League title looks out of reach for another season.

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