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Team News: Wenger’s update on Wilshere, Cazorla & Oxlade-Chamberlain

By on April 23, 2016

santi cazorla

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com an update on Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of our clash with Sunderland.

We make the long trip to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon and the boss has refused to divulge whether Wilshere will be involved for the first time this season.

Jack stepped-up his recovery from a fractured fibula with another run-out for the under-21’s last week and is now in contention but the boss might decide to hold him back for next weeks home clash with Norwich City.

Cazorla resumed full training last Monday after recovering from an Achilles injury that delayed his comeback from knee ligament damage but the Spaniard is going to need to build up his fitness before he’ll be available for selection.

The same can be said for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who recently returned to full training after overcoming a knee injury, and Wenger might use the under-21’s play off against Blackburn as an opportunity for The Ox and Cazorla to get some minutes under their belts.

Here is the team news update he gave Arsenal.com:

on when Cazorla or Oxlade-Chamberlain could play…
They are not ready yet and I haven’t decided yet, but there are not many games left. We still have games in the under-21s, I can put them in the play-off games [if they are available].

on if Wilshere could feature on Sunday…
I cannot plan that. At the moment I do not know if I will take him on Sunday or not. Should I take him, you cannot plan that he will play a part in the game.

on what will decide Jack’s involvement…
He made a big improvement in the third [under-21s] game. In the first two he was alright, but in the third he found his burst back, the little change of pace. If I don’t take him this weekend, I will take him [in the squad] the weekend after, certainly.

It’s great to have Jack back as we’ve certainly missed him this season but with Elneny performing well and Ramsey and Coquelin also available, there is no need to rush him back so I think Arsene will wait till the Norwich game next week.