Wenger’s Team News: Key man ruled out + news on Flamini & Gabriel

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Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Francis Coquelin has been ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Leicester City with a knee injury.

The midfielder missed out Capital One Cup victory over Tottenham after being forced off against Chelsea last weekend with a knee complaint.

The boss has been speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s trip to the King Power Stadium and unfortunately Coquelin is not yet fit to return.

Arsene confirmed that the 24-year-old will undergo a scan today but he believes the initial signs are ‘positive’. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out to be serious as losing Coquelin for any length of time would be a devastating blow.

In his absence, Mathieu Flamini deputised in midfield against Spurs and justified his inclusion with a superb match-winning performance, and Arsene has confessed the Frenchman may keep his place tomorrow.

Wenger is quoted as saying by the Express:

“Coquelin is improving well but he is not available for tomorrow. He might start practice tomorrow,”

“He will have a scan today but it looks quite positive. It’s a little bone in the knee.”

“It is possible [Flamini might start]. I have to see how we have recovered (from the Tottenham game). It will be a late decision for me.”

Otherwise, we have no fresh injury worries to contend with and the only other doubt we have for the Leicester game is whether Gabriel will be available or not.

The Brazilian will find out today what punishment he’ll face after being slapped with an improper conduct charge by the FA following his dismissal against Chelsea last week.

The boss continued:

“We have no (other) injuries. We have uncertainties about Gabriel because whether he will be suspended or not,”

I personally expect Gabriel to get at least a one-match ban meaning he’ll be suspended for tomorrow’s game, but we’ll have to wait and see what the FA’s verdict is later today.

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