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Wenger’s team news: 1 player returns, 1 ruled out + Sanchez update
Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media this evening at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s final Champions League group stage match against Basel on Tuesday night.
The boss has given a team news update and confirmed a big boost with Olivier Giroud back in the squad after recovering from a groin injury that’s kept him out of our last two matches.
However, it remains to be seen whether the French international striker will come back in to the side as Wenger has hinted that he’ll resist the temptation to rest Alexis Sanchez after he scored a stunning hat-trick against West Ham on Saturday.
The boss says it’s often better to play an in-form player rather than rest him, so it looks as though Sanchez will once again be leading the line up front tomorrow night with Giroud probably on the bench.
We are virtually guaranteed to finish second in the group after drawing with PSG at the Emirates last month so Wenger would be forgiven if he decided to field a weakened side but the boss has taken virtually a full strength squad with him to Switzerland.
The only change from the squad that faced the Hammers at the weekend is Giroud replacing the suspended Francis Coquelin, but Arsene is yet to decide on his starting eleven for the game.
My best guess is that we’ll make a few changes with David Ospina, Kieran Gibbs, Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey coming in to the side but it will still be considered an extremely squad squad.
Stay tuned for my preferred starting line-up post which should be up on the site later. For now, check out what Wenger has been saying to the media this evening:
Wenger: "I haven't decided on my team yet, I've 24 more hours, but my main priority is to win the game." #UCL #bslars @Arsenal @FC_Basel_en
— Ian Holyman (@UEFAcomIanH) December 5, 2016
Wenger: "I keep the group together. Do the players start or not? I will make a decision tomorrow."
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 5, 2016
Coquelin suspended and replaced by Giroud.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 5, 2016
At Basle where Arsene confirms #AFC have the same squad as the West Ham game, with Giroud added.
— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) December 5, 2016
Wenger on Sanchez: "Best way when a guy is in a good success and a good confidence, it's more dangerous to stop him"https://t.co/0fH4dkzMVJ
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) December 5, 2016
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