Don't Miss

Ozil among 7 key Arsenal players to miss training ahead of Cologne clash

By mac14 on September 13, 2017

It looks like Arsene Wenger is ready to field a severely weakened side for Arsenal’s Europa League opener against Cologne on Thursday night.

We welcome the Bundesliga outfit to the Emirates tomorrow and it seems the boss is ready to give several key players a rest ahead of Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.

The club are holding an open training session at London Colney this morning and several journalists are reporting that seven key first team players are not involved.

Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey have all been given the day off in a clear indication they won’t be involved against Cologne.

Alexis Sanchez is in training today so the Chilean international should be involved tomorrow as he looks set to make only his second start of the season.

With so many first team players rested, the likes of Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi are expected to start against Cologne.

Jack Wilshere is also in-line to make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt in over a year while youngsters like Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock could also be in the squad.

No Cech, Koscielny, Lacazette, Welbeck, Ozil, Xhaka or Ramsey in training today, but not injured. Big sign at the type of XI tomorrow.

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) September 13, 2017

Giroud, Walcott, Mertesacker, Holding, Mustafi, Sanchez all set to play. Nelson, Akpom, Willock, Nketiah should all feature. pic.twitter.com/iWp0Kfvcbq

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) September 13, 2017