Arsenal manager Unai Emery has provided an injury update on the first-team squad ahead of the weekend Premier League clash against Bournemouth on the road.
In a report covered by Arsenal’s official website, Emery revealed that there may be no potential returns for the South Coast trip barring Stephan Lichtsteiner, who is expected to undergo a late fitness test to assess his recent hamstring injury.
Despite this, there was some positive news on the fitness front with club-captain Laurent Koscielny returning to full training during the international break.
Emery has revealed that the Frenchman could potentially feature for the Under 23s against Derby County on Monday night before making small strides towards the senior squad.
Meanwhile, Nacho Monreal and Konstantinos Mavropanos remain on the sidelines with hamstring and groin injuries respectively and they may not return to training until the festive schedule in mid-December.
Aside from the quartet, Danny Welbeck remains the long-term absentee after having undergone a double operation on a serious ankle injury picked up during the goalless Europa League draw against Sporting Lisbon earlier in the month.
Arsenal are currently just outside the Champions League positions with a three-point gap to fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur but they have the opportunity to close the gap with Spurs and Chelsea scheduled to clash over the weekend.
Unai Emery’s side are unbeaten since the second gameweek of the Premier League but of late, they have played out three successive top-flight draws which have dropped them from the top four in the standings.
