Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Huge Injury Concern But Attacker Passed Fit

Arsenal will look to close in on the top four in the Premier League when we take on Southampton at St Marys on Wednesday night.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this morning and he’s given reporters a team news and injury update.

Unfortunately, the boss confirmed a huge fresh injury concern after revealing that Laurent Koscielny is a major doubt for the trip to the South Coast tomorrow.

Koscielny was a rock at the back during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Man Utd but it appears he must have picked up a knock during that game as Wenger says the centre-back will face a fitness test after training today.

There was slightly better news regarding Granit Xhaka as the midfielder is expected is be passed fit despite being forced off during the win over United at the weekend.

The Swiss international was substituted midway through the second half after aggravating a calf problem but Wenger seems confident he’ll be available to face Southampton.

The boss also had a positive update on the fitness of Lucas Perez after confirming the attacker is fit and available for selection after recovering from a niggling thigh injury.

The Spanish striker hasn’t played in two months due to the problem and missed the United game after suffering a setback last week but he returned to training yesterday so could be back in the squad tomorrow night.

Wenger is quoted as saying by the Daily Star:

“We have some worries for Koscielny he might not be available, he will have a test today. We will make the decision after training.”

“Xhaka similar but he looks to have recovered well, news for him is better,”

“He [Perez] is again fit. He was back in training yesterday,”

It would be a huge blow if Koscielny was ruled out as he’s our best centre-back but thankfully Shkodran Mustafi is available again so he will replace the Frenchman is he fails his fitness test.

We head to St Marys knowing a win will see us climb up to fifth in the table and move to within four points of third-placed Liverpool with a game in hand so it’s vital we don’t slip up tomorrow night.