Arsenal’s Pre-Spurs Team News: Wenger Confirms Huge Double Blow + Wilshere Latest

Arsenal will look to get their season back on track when they take on North London rivals Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon.

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.

The Gunners boss has confirmed a huge blow with the news that Petr Cech has been ruled out for up to four weeks after suffering a calf injury against Swansea City on Wednesday night.

The Czech international was carrying a minor groin problem going in to the game at the Emirates and Wenger believes his number one over-compensated and subsequently pulled his calf muscle while running back from a last minute corner.

If Cech is out for the full four weeks then he’ll miss upcoming games against Tottenham, Hull, West Brom, Barcelona and Everton but he could be back in time to face Watford after the international break.

In a double blow for Arsenal, Wenger has also confirmed that Laurent Koscielny will also miss the trip to White Hart Lane this weekend with his own calf complaint.

Thankfully for Arsenal though, the centre-back’s injury isn’t serious and while he may also sit out the FA Cup replay at Hull on Tuesday, the Frenchman should be back in time to face West Brom next weekend.

Wenger then gave an update on the fitness of Jack Wilshere and claims the midfielder is still not running outside and won’t be back for at least another three to four weeks.

Wilshere hasn’t featured yet this season after suffering a fractured fibula in August and his proposed comeback date keeps being put back, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re still hearing he’s ‘3-4 weeks away’ in a months time.

Wenger is quoted as saying by London24:

“Petr Cech is out and Koscielny is not back. Cech will miss three to four weeks. It is a serious calf injury, he had a groin alert and could not kick the ball properly.”

“Maybe he compensated too much. I have complete confidence in Ospina. I’m not worried on that front. If you look at the win rate with Ospina it is very good as well.”

“Koscielny has a small injury but he is out for tomorrow. Maybe he will be back on Tuesday but certainly next week.”

“He [Wilshere] is not running yet. It is going on plan, he is doing well but still three to four weeks for him. After the international break maybe he will be available.”

BACK SPURS AT 8/1 OR ARSENAL AT 9/1 = MONEY BACK IF YOU LOSE

Arsenal head to White Hart Lane in disarray with back-to-back league defeat to Manchester United and Swansea leaving them sitting three points adrift of Spurs and six off leaders Leicester so they desperately need a positive result tomorrow to get their title challenge back on track.