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Wenger Reveals Injury Concerns Over Key Attacking Duo

By mac14 on December 9, 2014

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck are both currently carrying knocks.

Speaking to Arsenal.com ahead of tonight’s Champions League group game against Galatasaray, Arsene confirmed that Sanchez has been playing with a groin injury ‘for some time’.

The boss didn’t say how serious the problem is but it can’t be too much of a concern as he’s been completing 90 practically ever game this season. However, the club have taken the opportunity to give the Chilean a rest against Gala tonight so hopefully the groin injury will ease slightly.

Wenger also revealed that Welbeck picked up a minor knee injury recently so he too was pulled from the squad that travelled to Turkey on Monday afternoon and stayed back in North London with the likes of Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla – who have all be rested for the game.

Arsene decided to name his starting eleven last night so we know that Debuchy is set to make his long-awaited return while Szczesny will regain his position between the sticks after a five-game absence.

Podolski and Campbell get rare starts and will support Sanogo in attack, and we’ll have a number of youngsters on the bench hoping to get a taste of first team action.

Wenger was also pushed for an update on Jack Wilshere and he hit back at reports suggesting the midfielder has suffered a set-back, with the boss insisting the 22-year-old will return inside the allotted three-months following ankle surgery.

Here is what Arsene told the clubs website:

on the team news…

To make it as simple as possible, I have 11 experienced players and six young players on the bench. That means I have nothing to hide. Debuchy is back with us and will play, Szczesny is back in goal, Mertesacker, Chambers will play because Gibbs did not travel, Bellerin at left-back. Then you have Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Flamini, Podolski, Sanogo and Campbell. The players who needed it stayed behind – like Cazorla, Sanchez, Gibbs, Giroud is not qualified and Welbeck, who could have travelled but recently had a little knee problem, so took advantage of that to rest him.

on any other news…

Not because of the game on Saturday, but Sanchez had a groin problem for some time, and he has played 27 games. Cazorla has played many games, it is more just the number of repetitive games we have.

on Jack Wilshere…

How long will Wilshere be out? Three months, and he had no setback. He is just in a boot, he cannot have a setback because he does not practise.

It’s the right decision by Arsene to rest some of our key players tonight as we’ve got some big league games coming up. The Sanchez and Welbeck knocks don’t sound serious so I’d fully expect them to return against Newcastle on Saturday night.