Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has plenty of selection headaches this weekend as the prepares his side for their trip to face Sunderland on Saturday.
The Gunners will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing goalless draw with Middlesbrough last weekend, although their win in the EFL Cup in midweek would have lifted spirits again.
Nevertheless, Wenger knows that he can’t afford for another slip up in the league at Sunderland who have their own problems to contend with but the French tactician will seemingly be forced into making changes.
Having confirmed that Lucas Perez will be out for between six and eight weeks after suffering an ankle injury this week, he also revealed that Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Nacho Monreal are all doubts for this weekend’s game.
“We lost Perez for a while with an ankle injury. Hopefully he will recover but I think it will be six-eight weeks out. We have a few uncertainties about (Theo) Walcott, (Nacho) Monreal, (Santi) Cazorla. All tests today.”
It wasn’t all bad news for Arsenal supporters through, with Wenger painting a more positive picture by confirming that both Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey will be in line to return at the Stadium of Light, with the former making his comeback against Reading in the League Cup.
“We have (Olivier) Giroud back, Aaron Ramsey will be in the squad.”
Arsenal currently sit joint top of the Premier League table along with Manchester City and Liverpool, but their focus will firmly be on themselves and producing an improved performance which in turn will pile further misery on David Moyes’ men.
So boss, what’s the latest on these two?
? "We have Giroud available, Aaron Ramsey will be back in the squad"
?? https://t.co/fh4Fyeou4V pic.twitter.com/mhUwzN9rhz
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 28, 2016
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? "We have a few uncertainties on Walcott, Monreal and Cazorla – they will have tests today"#SFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/jEjL8lFQoB
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 28, 2016