Arsenal Team News: Wenger Rules Trio Out Of Man Utd Game + Ramsey, Welbeck Latest

Arsenal will be without three first team players for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United while Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey are also considered doubts for the game.

The Gunners will be hoping to bounce back from Monday’s shock loss at home to Swansea when they take on United this weekend and Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com a team news update ahead of the match.

The Frenchman confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains unavailable as he continues to work on his match fitness. The midfielder hasn’t featured since suffering a hamstring injury against United back in March and a subsequent groin problem has kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks.

The 21-year-old returned to full training last week and there were hopes that he could be back in the squad on Sunday, however, Wenger has revealed he won’t be in contention to face United.

Oxlade-Chamberlain therefore joins Mathieu Debuchy on the sidelines as the defender is also still working his way back to full fitness after a hamstring injury that’s seen him miss the North Londoners last three matches.

Mikel Arteta is another who’s been ruled out of the trip to Old Trafford but Wenger is hopeful all three players will play again before the end of the season.

Aaron Ramsey has not been able to train this week after picking up a knock against Swansea but the Gunners boss is confident  the Welshman will be able to prove his fitness on Friday.

Despite reports in the newspapers suggesting otherwise, there is also still a big doubt over whether Danny Welbeck will be available to face his former side this weekend.

Welbeck has missed the last two matches with a knee injury and the media claimed this morning he’ll be back in the squad on Sunday, but Arsene Wenger says the 24-year-old only has a small chance of being passed fit.

The Arsenal boss told the clubs website:

on team news…

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy and Mikel Arteta are not ready. Danny Welbeck has a little possibility to be fit. Aaron Ramsey is not in training yet but he should be better tomorrow. I don’t think we have any big injuries, maybe Welbeck will be available but at the moment he looks short.

on timescales…

I don’t know how long the others will be out for, it’s difficult to say, but hopefully they will play again this season.

Arsenal head into the match sitting just two points ahead of United in the Premier League table but crucially they also hold a game in hand, so a positive result on Sunday would put Wenger’s men in excellent shape to claim an automatic Champions League qualification place.