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Arsenal team news: double blow ahead of Sunderland + Ramsey update

By on October 27, 2016

santi cazorla

Arsenal are set to be without Santi Cazorla and Lucas Perez for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland but Aaron Ramsey could return to the squad, report the Daily Mail.

As we reported earlier, Perez has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage during our 2-0 victory over Reading in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

The striker has had few chances to impress since arriving from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer but his absence now leaves us with limited options up front with Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom sidelined.

Olivier Giroud did make his long-awaited return to action off the bench in midweek but he’s still not fit enough to start just yet so we’re heavily reliant on Alexis Sanchez through the middle.

Cazorla has missed the last two games against Middlesbrough and Reading after suffering an achilles injury during our 6-0 thrashing of Ludogorets in the Champions League last week.

Arsene Wenger has been non-committal over a possible return date – which is understandable given the issues Cazorla had with his achilles last season – and the Daily Mail claim the Spaniard isn’t likely to be risked this weekend.

There is some positive news as the newspaper reports that Ramsey could be back in the squad for the trip to the Stadium of Light after finally recovering from a niggling hamstring injury.

The midfielder has been on the sidelines for over two months since originally suffering the injury against Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season and has seen his comeback delayed due to several setbacks.

However, he returned to full training earlier this month and could be back in the squad this weekend – although Ramsey is only expected to be named on the bench as he’s eased back in to action.

It means that with Granit Xhaka still suspended, we have limited options in the middle of the park so Mohamed Elneny is likely to start alongside Francis Coquelin against Sunderland.