The Gunners boss also spoke of the need for rotation.
SEE MORE:
Arsenal transfer news
West Ham news
Top 50 best footballers in the world 2014/15
Arsene Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Arsenal’s trip to West Ham on Sunday with Laurent Koscielny potentially providing a fitness boost.
Wenger said that the French defender has a slight chance of being fit to face the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground and also that Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, who failed a late fitness test for the QPR game, could also return.
Theo Walcott wasn’t given any game time on Boxing Day but Wenger says this was more tactical than physical with the Arsenal boss reluctant to bring on the English forward on over defensive substitutions as the Gunners were down to ten men.
“[Laurent] Koscielny has a chance, he will have a test tomorrow,” said Wenger. “He has a little chance. [Alex] Chamberlain has an even smaller chance,” the Arsenal boss told Arsenal.com.
“[Theo Walcott] was in the squad on Friday but it was difficult to bring him on when it was tight and we had to defend. He’s not far away.”
The Gunners face a run of five games in 14 days over the festive period and Wenger has spoken about the need to rotate his squad to ensure maximum results and minimum injuries.
“The plan is to sleep well and recover. We want to stay in the game. We’ll train on Saturday morning and on Saturday night we go to the hotel. It’s very quick and interesting as well,” he said.
Arsenal are currently one point behind the Hammers in the Premier League table but a win would see Arsenal leapfrog them into fifth place and set the North London side up well to battle for the top four in 2015.
“It’s very tight and it’s down to consistency now. We know every game now is down to consistency and reproducing the performances. We need to prepare quickly, focus quickly and that is an ability we want to show at West Ham.”