Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Double Injury Boost + Offers Wilshere Update

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Hull City and has offered a team news and injury update.

We welcome the Tigers, who we beat in the 2014 final, to the Emirates tomorrow afternoon and thankfully it looks like Laurent Koscielny is going to be available for selection.

The French international was substituted at half-time during last weeks win over Leicester City after picking up a dead leg while trying to tackle N’Golo Kante just before the break.

However, Wenger says the centre-back will undergo a fitness test at training this morning but expects Koscielny to be passed fit and available for selection for tomorrow’s game.

There was also positive news on Gabriel with the defender expected to be back in contention in the next week despite reports suggesting the 25-year-old could be out for up to a month with a hamstring injury.

The Brazilian international will miss the next two games against Hull and Barcelona but Arsene expects him back in a week so he could be available to face Manchester United next Sunday if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks.

The boss also gave an update on the fitness of Jack Wilshere and claims the midfielder is still 3-4 weeks away from making his long-awaited return to the squad after yet another injury plagued campaign.

Wilshere is yet to play a single minute of competitive football this season after suffering a fractured fibula back in August and Wenger said last Friday that he was 3-4 weeks away from being fit. However, that time-frame hasn’t moved as the boss gave the same answer when quizzed for an update on Jack’s fitness this morning.

Wenger: “@6_LKOSCIELNY will be available. He has a test today. @gpaulista5 is still out.” WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/fh4Fyeou4V

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 19, 2016

Wenger: “@gpaulista5 will need another week. @JackWilshere will be back in three or four weeks.” WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/fh4Fyeou4V

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 19, 2016

It’s a huge relief that Gabriel’s injury isn’t serious while it’s great news that Koscielny is fit. However, I personally wouldn’t risk him tomorrow. I’d go with Calum Chambers alongside Per Mertesacker and hold Koscielny back for the Barcelona game.