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TEAM NEWS: Wenger On Ramsey, Welbeck, Walcott, Sanchez & Rosicky

By on December 30, 2014

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Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com his team news update ahead of our vital clash with Southampton on New Year’s Day.

Unfortunately, Danny Welbeck is a doubt after picking up a thigh injury during Sunday’s 2-1 win at West Ham so he’ll face a late fitness test to see if he can make the trip to the South Coast.

Hopefully Welbeck can be passed fit as without the suspended Olivier Giroud, we’ll be short of options in attack if he’s ruled out.

One man who definitely won’t be available is Aaron Ramsey with Arsene confirming that the midfielder has still not recovered from a thigh injury, while the boss also revealed that Tomas Rosicky would come back into the side after being rested against the Hammers last time out.

Alexis Sanchez has been playing virtually every minute in recent weeks but Arsene has played down the need to rest him as he feels the Chilean recovers quickly and has plenty of energy to burn.

It’s a dangerous game to play and I seem to remember many calling for Ramsey to be rested around this time last year just before he was ruled out for three months with a thigh injury. Let’s hope a similar situation doesn’t arise with Sanchez.

Theo Walcott is pushing to make his first appearance in almost six weeks after recovering from a groin injury. Arsene has confirmed he’s now fully-fit but is still lacking in match practice. Only one way to solve that Arsene….play the lad!

Here is what the boss said:

on the latest…

The team news is that the squad will basically be the same that played at West Ham. We have an uncertainty about Welbeck, who came off with a thigh problem. I think he will be short for Thursday.

on Tomas Rosicky…

Rosicky will be back in the squad because he was rested. Giroud is still suspended. I will have to make a decision on who will come back, but Rosicky will come in for sure.

on rotation…

We have Southampton which is another game that will demand a high intensity and commitment, so I will have to look at how we recovered because we gave a lot in the last two games in 48 hours. It’s down now to the quality of the recovery.

Rotation is a sensitive subject because you can destabilise your team with too much rotation. So you have to find the right numbers for rotating the team. Overall, you want to keep the balance of your team and as well refresh sometimes in the positions where players are a bit tired.

on Alexis…

Alexis is a guy who has a naturally quick recovery and he has a lot of energy available as well.

on Theo Walcott…

Walcott is involved because he was already in the squad. Of course I judge him a bit short on the competition front but on the fitness front he is ready to play.

on Aaron Ramsey…

Ramsey is not available yet. There’s no setback but because he had a setback last year, we have to be very cautious with his thigh – he was out for three months.

It’s a big game on Thursday as we have the chance to make it three wins on the spin and pull clear in fourth spot. Let’s hope the lads can put in another spirited display as we’ve had to dig deep in recent games.

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