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Arsenal boss confirms injury boost but duo ruled out of Red Star Belgrade clash
Arsene Wenger has offered a positive update on Sead Kolasinac but confirmed David Ospina and Calum Chambers will miss our Europa League clash with Red Star Belgrade.
Kolasinac limped off during the closing stages of our 2-1 win over Swansea City after scoring the equaliser and setting up Aaron Ramsey for the winner in the second half.
Wenger confirmed after the game on Saturday that the Bosnian international had aggravated a hip injury and was a doubt for this weekend’s trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Man City.
Kolasinac wasn’t able to train today ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League game, however, the boss has confirmed he wouldn’t have faced Red Star Belgrade anyway.
Wenger also revealed that the injury isn’t as bad as first feared and Kolasinac will have a late fitness test to see if he’ll be able to take on City this weekend.
The manager also provided an update on Ospina and unfortunately our No.2 isn’t going to be fit to face Belgrade tomorrow night as he’s still nursing a groin injury but Wenger is hoping to have him back for Sunday’s trip to Manchester.
Chambers is back in full training after missing the last six weeks with a hip injury but the centre-back is still not ready to make his comeback tomorrow night.
Speaking at his press conference today, Wenger is quoted as saying by the Evening Standard:
“Kolasinac was much better, he will have a test at the end of the week. He is not ruled out of Sunday’s game yet. It’s not as bad as we could have feared it at the start.”
“Both of them are short. Ospina maybe will be available for Sunday. Chambers is back in full training but not fit enough to play.”
It’s a huge boost to hear Kolasinac’s injury isn’t serious so hopefully the full-back is passed fit to face City as otherwise we’ll be forced to field a weakened defence.
Shkodran Mustafi is still out until after the international break so Rob Holding would need to come in to the back three with Nacho Monreal moved out to the left wing-back role.