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TEAM NEWS: Wenger On Walcott, Koscielny, Ramsey, Ozil, The Ox + More

By on December 18, 2014

Theo Walcott Arsenal

Arsenal face a tough trip to Anfield on Sunday to take on Liverpool and once again we’ll be going into the game with several injury worries to contend with.

The good news is that Arsene Wenger has confirmed Theo Walcott could be back in the squad. The attacker will have a late fitness test on Saturday after returning to training following a groin injury.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be given until the last minute to prove his fitness after picking up a groin injury against Newcastle last weekend, but the expectation is that The Ox will feature.

We could be strengthened in defence too with Nacho Monreal possibly coming back into contention having missed the last four games with a foot injury.

Arsene also revealed that David Ospina is back in full training so he could replace Emi Martinez in the squad while Tomas Rosicky is due back in full training next week.

The boss gave a brief update on our other long-term injuries, saying that Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny are progressing well, but none will feature this weekend.

Here is what Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on the team news…

There’s a slight chance of Monreal being available and a very slight chance for Walcott. We hope that Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit. We’ll see that on Saturday.

on Theo Walcott…

He is back in training today [Thursday]. But only today. I might take him, I don’t know yet until he’s back to full training. Let’s see.

on Oxlade-Chamberlain…

That’s what we’ll see on Saturday after a test. He’s not in training at the moment.

on Ospina and Rosicky…

Ospina is back in full training and Rosicky should be back next week.

on Wilshere, Ozil, Koscielny, Ramsey and Arteta…

All out. They’re all progressing as planned.

It would be great to have Theo back on the bench as a weapon to bring on in the second half but the key for me is that Oxlade-Chamberlain is able to start. If he’s ruled out, we’ll most likely have to start Francis Coquelin in midfield and we’ll be SEVERELY weakened as a result.

It’s bad enough to have to make-do without Rambo, Wilshere, Ozil and Arteta but to lose The Ox as well would leave our midfield a real area of concern.

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