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Arsenal Team News: Wenger’s Update On Sanchez, Welbeck & Rosicky
The Premier League finally returns this weekend and Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com a team news update ahead of our clash with West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
The boss confirmed that Danny Welbeck is making progress on his recovery from a knee injury that’s kept him out since way back in April of last season.
Welbeck has returned to light training but unfortunately Arsene says he won’t be in contention to face the Hammers this weekend.
Thomas Rosicky is another who’s nursing a knee injury that he picked up while on international duty with the Czech national team earlier in the summer.
The midfielder is also making progress in his recovery but the boss gave no indication as to when he’ll be available, so we can only assume Rosicky won’t be available on Sunday.
The final update from Wenger concerned Alexis Sanchez and the Chilean international hasn’t been ruled out entirely this weekend.
Sanchez only returned to training on Wednesday after being given an extended summer break following his participation in the Copa America and while Arsene says he’s unlikely to be involved, he’ll make a final decision at the end of the week.
Sanchez has been keeping himself fit during his holidays by training on the beach and Arsene says he’s come back in great shape, which means he should be available much sooner than some other players – who spent their summer boozing in Dubai or Vegas.
Here is what Wenger told Arsenal.com:
on the team news…
We have Welbeck on a progressive recovery and Rosicky on a progressive recovery.
on Welbeck…
He is not too far away, but he is not ready for Sunday.
on Alexis…
Alexis is back in training but I don’t think he will be involved on Sunday, it is a bit early maybe. We have to decide that at the end of the week, but I don’t think he will be involved.
on Alexis training on the beach in Chile…
Alex without running around is not Alex, you know. You can’t imagine him lying on the beach somewhere and not moving! He came back in good fitness shape so that is quite positive, but I am not surprised by that because I can’t imagine him lying around for four weeks and doing nothing. That wouldn’t be him.
I think it would be foolish to throw Sanchez straight back in to the team on Sunday but perhaps we could have him on the bench and only use him if needed.
The only other player not available this weekend is of course Jack Wilshere, with Wenger confirming earlier today the sad news that he’s suffered yet another ankle injury which will keep him out for up to 8 weeks.