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Injury News: Latest On Ozil, Walcott, Cazorla, Rosicky & Sagna

By mac14 on October 17, 2013

We welcome Norwich City to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon as we look to maintain our status as Premier League leaders.

The team news is in with Arsene Wenger telling Arsenal.com the latest on Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Bacary Sagna, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky, and it’s largely positive.

Gooners throughout the world were holding their breath as news emerged that Mesut Ozil had limped off while playing for Germany on Tuesday night. However, the boss confirmed today that the playmaker suffered only a minor knock to his knee and he’ll have a late fitness test ahead of the Norwich game.

Should Ozil miss out, we could have a ready-made replacement ready to come in with Santi Cazorla returning to the squad after training all week. Wenger is concerned about his match sharpness so it’s touch-and-go whether he’ll start or come on as an impact sub.

Sagna could also return with Wenger rating him at 80% fit following a minor hamstring strain. If this is the case, I’d rather he was rested ahead of Tuesday’s game with Borussia Dortmund.

Our attacking options have been enhanced further with Rosicky back in contention but Walcott is still around two weeks away from full fitness as he continues to recover from an abdominal injury.

Abou Diaby, Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yaya Sanogo remain our long-term injury victims. Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on Mesut Ozil, who was substituted for Germany on Tuesday…

He is alright. He came back with a knock on the knee but it was just a kick. We’ll have a test tomorrow to see if he is fit enough for Saturday or not. When you have not played, there is always a little doubt but not a major one.

on Sagna and Cazorla…

Sagna is 80 per cent fit and he will have a test. Cazorla is available in training but he is not match-fit. It is just about competitiveness with him. There is a possibility both are in the squad for Saturday. I have not decided whether they will start or not.

on Rosicky and Walcott…

Rosicky is back in the squad and available. Walcott is still two weeks away.

on Sanogo, Podolski, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain…

All of them are out for a longer period.

So we’re slowly getting our players back and the squad is looking a lot healthier than it was a month ago. With Cazorla and Rosicky back, we have options in attack which comes as a good time if Ozil misses out on Saturday.

Fingers crossed for three points on Saturday and we’ll be heading into the Dortmund game in confident mood.

Here is my preferred starting eleven for the game

What would be your team for the game?