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Arsenal handed huge double injury boost as duo train ahead of Napoli clash

By on April 10, 2019

granit xhaka arsenal

Arsenal have been handed a double boost as Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka have trained ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final first leg with Napoli at the Emirates Stadium.

Koscielny picked up a foot problem late last month and was forced to miss our win over Newcastle United on March 1st. The centre-back had hoped to return against Everton but he was also ruled out of the defeat at Goodison Park the day before the game.

Unai Emery suggested after the Everton match that Koscielny was close to returning to action and the club confirmed on Arsenal.com this morning that the Frenchman will be given a late fitness test to see if he’ll be available against Napoli.

Xhaka has also sat out our last two matches after suffering a groin injury during the recent international break and the Swiss midfielder will also be assessed to see if he’ll be fit to return tomorrow night.

Arsenal came through the defeat on Sunday unscathed as we have no fresh injuries to worry about but obviously Emery will continue to be without our three long-term absentees – Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck.

An update on Arsenal.com said:

Laurent Koscielny
Bruised left foot. Being assessed ahead of Napoli (h).

Granit Xhaka
Left groin. Being assessed ahead of Napoli (h).

However, it looks like Arsenal have been handed some positive news as both Koscielny and Xhaka took part in training this morning with the rest of the squad so it looks like they should be in contention tomorrow.

We desperately need Koscielny back against a dangerous Napoli side as our defence was all over the place at Everton and the sooner we can bench Shkodran Mustafi, the better.

I thought we also sorely missed Xhaka in the middle of the park at the weekend so hopefully he’s also back in contention tomorrow night as we look to secure a lead ahead of next weeks second leg.

Given our dreadful away form, it looks like we’ll need a healthy win tomorrow to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals!