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Pre-Spurs team news update: Wenger on Cech, Koscielny & Wilshere

By on March 4, 2016

petr cech arsenal

It’s been another busy of injury news at Arsenal HQ so I’ll bring you a round-up of all the latest from Arsene Wenger….

The boss gave Arsenal.com an update following his pre-match press conference this morning ahead of our huge game with Tottenham and unfortunately he had some bad news for us regarding Petr Cech.

The Czech international suffered a calf injury during the final stages of our disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea in midweek and Arsene has confirmed our No.1 is now set to miss up to a month.

It turns out Cech was carrying a minor groin injury before the game but declared himself fit for selection, and it looks as though that original injury might have played its part in the calf problem that he picked up during the final minute on Wednesday night.

Cech will now miss the Spurs game along with subsequent matches against Hull, West Brom, Barcelona and Everton but he could return against Watford at the start of next month if all goes to plan.

Wenger also confirmed that Laurent Koscielny will miss the trip to White Hart Lane with his own calf complaint but thankfully his injury isn’t serious and he should be back for the game with West Brom next week.

There was also an update on Jack Wilshere and Arsene says the midfielder is still 3-4 weeks away from being fit and is hopeful he could be available after the next international break.

However, we’ve heard this ‘3-4 week’ line for months now so I’m not holding my breath that we’ll see Jack back on the pitch any time soon. If he makes an appearance this season, I’ll consider it a bonus.

This is what Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on team news…
Petr Cech is out and Laurent Koscielny is not back. We have to check this morning that everybody who played on Wednesday is a available tomorrow.

on Cech…
It is a calf injury. He had a little groin problem but he declared himself 100 per cent fit. Then you have to trust the player. He’s 33 years old and he knows his body. If he says he’s fit then he is available.

on Koscielny…
Koscielny is out. He has a small injury but he is out tomorrow and Tuesday next week. It’s a grade one, so it’s a very short period. I don’t think he’ll be available on Tuesday but next Saturday he should be alright.

on if Jack Wilshere is running…
Not yet. He is going to plan. He is doing well but we think three to four weeks. Maybe he will be available [after the international break].

on Jack’s chances for Euro 2016…
He is an important player in the plans of Roy Hodgson. We know that because I spoke with Roy about Jack. We need to do everything to make him available for us.

So we head to the Lane without our No.1 keeper and David Ospina will therefore start in goal, while Per Mertesacker will continue alongside Gabriel at the back with Koscielny out.

Hardly ideal as we go in to the biggest NLD in 20 years but hey, we wouldn’t be Arsenal without injury problems….