Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has provided a key update on his first-team squad ahead of this weekend’s Premier League game at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Gunners endured a difficult start to the month with a 3-0 league defeat at Manchester City on Thursday night, and the Brighton game is a must-win in order to build up confidence ahead of the Europa League tie versus AC Milan.
Speaking prior to the Seagulls game, Wenger admitted that he will assess the overall fitness around the squad, and this may see a couple of key players including Laurent Koscielny benched, considering his issues with a recurring Achilles problem.
Meanwhile, going on the individual basis, Wenger appeared to confirm that Wilshere is a 50/50 for the encounter, and he will have late fitness test on his ankle to determine his participation at the south Coast.
Other than this, there was not any update on the rest, and this suggests that Nacho Monreal is out for an extended period, which may include the upcoming matches versus Brighton and Milan on the road.
Wenger said on the team: “I don’t know, we will have to analyse that medically and see if I need to rest some players or not. I have until Sunday to make that decision, but of course we gave a lot [in the Carabao Cup final] and on Thursday night. I have to decide who I rest and who I keep going.”
And when asked on Wilshere, he added: “If he can practice tomorrow, then he will be in contention. He will not practice today, he will have treatment and then a test tomorrow.”
Arsene Wenger’s side are pretty much out of the running for the Champions League positions via the league phase, but they is still plenty of stake at Brighton after two successive away defeats.
The Gunners presently have a woeful away record of just 13 points in 14 league matches, which is comparable with the likes of Newcastle United, and the team will want to end on a high by winning the remaining outings, which is far easier said than done.
