- Confirmed line-ups: Newcastle vs Arsenal – Gabriel & Timber start for Gunners
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Newcastle United
- Arsenal ‘interested’ in Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane
- Arsenal told to spend big to sign Brentford star Mbeumo
- Arsenal eye move to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi
- Arsenal eye raid on Newcastle United to sign Alexander Isak
- Arsenal eye swoop to sign Brighton star Carlos Baleba
- Confirmed line-ups: Preston vs Arsenal – Nwaneri and Martinelli start
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Preston North End
- Arsenal eye swoop to sign Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres
Team news: Arsenal confirm triple injury boost + Emery offers update on Sokratis
Arsenal have confirmed a triple injury boost ahead of our Premier League clash with Leicester City but Sokratis and Petr Cech remain major doubts for the game.
Let’s start with the good news and Danny Welbeck is available for selection after overcoming a minor hamstring injury that forced him to withdraw from the England squad ahead of their Nations League games with Croatia and Spain.
Mesut Ozil is also set to return to the squad after returning to full training following a back injury. The playmaker picked up the issue during our 5,000 mile round trip to Azerbaijan earlier this month and he missed the 5-1 win at Fulham before the international break but he’ll be in the squad to face Leicester.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also pushing for a recall to the squad on Monday after making a full recovery from a fractured leg that he sustained during the defeat to Manchester City on the opening game of the season – although Unai Emery may give him more time to work on his fitness.
However, Sokratis remains a major doubt for the game on Monday as he’s struggling with an ankle injury that he picked up while playing for Greece against Finland earlier this week.
Petr Cech is also in danger of missing the visit of Leicester with a hamstring injury that he sustained against Watford late last month so Bernd Leno is on stand-by to continue in goal.
A team news update on Arsenal.com read:
Danny Welbeck
Now returned to full training following minor hamstring issue.Mesut Ozil
Now returned to full training following back spasm.Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Now returned to full training following a small fracture to left fibula in August.Sokratis
Right ankle bruising from international duty. Being assessed ahead of Leicester City (h) on Monday, October 22.Petr Cech
Left hamstring injury from Watford (h). Being assessed ahead of Leicester City (h) on Monday, October 22.Dinos Mavropanos
Groin injury. Expected to return to full training in November.Laurent Koscielny
Right Achilles tendon repair. Aiming to return to full training in November.
Following this update, Emery then held his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he provided further insight in to Sokratis and Cech’s fitness with the boss suggesting both players may miss out against Leicester.
He told Arsenal.com:
The players are coming back now. Only Sokratis had one problem, one small injury. Maybe for Monday it’s difficult [for him to play].
Petr Cech is getting better from his injury but he’s not training with the group. But I think he’s very close to start with us.
It will be a blow if Sokratis misses out on Monday as he’s been a rock at the back in recent weeks. Rob Holding is set to continue alongside Shkodran Mustafi in the middle of defence if the Greek star is ruled out.