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Arsenal injury boost: Emery confirms key man will return to action next week

By mac14 on December 6, 2018

Arsenal have been handed a huge boost as Unai Emery has confirmed that Laurent Koscielny is set to make his long-awaited comeback from injury.

Koscielny hasn’t featured for the first team since rupturing his Achilles while playing in our Europa League semi-final defeat to Atletico Madrid in May of last season.

The 33-year-old has been working his way back to full fitness in recent weeks having returned to training and he made his return to the pitch with a 45 minute run-out for the U23’s against Derby last week.

The Frenchman then stepped-up his recovery further after starting for the U21’s in their EFL Trophy clash with Portsmouth on Tuesday night but sparked fears he’d suffered a setback after limping off during the closing stages of the game.

However, it turned out to be nothing more than cramp and Emery has now confirmed that Koscielny is on the verge of making his return with the first team.

The boss has suggested Saturday’s Premier League game with Huddersfield at the Emirates is a possibility but the Europa League dead rubber with Qarabag next Thursday is more likely game for him to play.

Speaking after our 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Wednesday night, Emery told Arsenal.com:

on Laurent Koscielny…
Laurent is very close to playing for us. He played two matches for the under-23s – the last one was on Tuesday. When are we thinking he will start playing with us? I don’t know if Saturday is a possibility, but we’re thinking the Europa League game against Qarabag could be a good match for him.

It will be a huge boost to have Koscielny available again as he’s been our best defender over recent years and while we don’t know what condition he’ll be in after such a serious injury, I think he’ll still have plenty to offer.

Emery has switched to a back three in recent weeks and with Rob Holding facing a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury that he suffered last night, Koscielny’s return has come at a great time.