Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Update On Ramsey, Gabriel & Koscielny

Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com an update on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Gabriel and Per Mertesacker ahead of Sunday’s clash with Watford.

We welcome the Hornets to the Emirates in the quarter finals of the FA Cup this weekend after easing past Hull City 4-0 in our fifth round replay on Tuesday night.

That win at the KC Stadium came at a cost as Gabriel and Meresacker left the field having picked up injuries meaning we finished the game with a patched-up back four.

Gabriel hobbled off with what appeared to be a minor hamstring alert while Mertesacker was forced off following a nasty clash of heads with Nick Powell in the first half, making them doubts for this weekend’s game.

However, thankfully the manager has now confirmed that neither player has suffered any serious injury and they should both be fit to face Watford on Sunday afternoon.

Ramsey also suffered a fresh injury against Hull in midweek and reports in the media this morning suggested that the midfielder could be facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh tear.

But Arsene has moved to play down that speculation after describing Ramsey’s injury as a ‘small alert’, although he was reluctant to give any more away about how long he could be out for at this stage.

Wenger also gave an update on Koscielny and the Frenchman will have a late fitness test to see if he’s ready to return from a calf injury that’s already kept him out for the last four matches, but the boss believes he only has a ‘little chance’ of being passed fit.

Arsene told the clubs website:

on the team news…
We had a few injuries at Hull – Gabriel, Mertesacker and Ramsey. Mertesacker and Gabriel are very positive, there is nothing wrong there, they are both good.

on Ramsey…
There is a small alert, we don’t know how bad it is.

on Laurent Koscielny…
He is not far, he will have tests until Sunday, but it could come too soon. He has a little chance.

With Mertesacker and Gabriel set to be fit to face Watford, there’s no point taking any unnecessary risks with Koscielny so I hope we keep him in reserve this weekend to make sure he’s fit for Wednesday’s trip to Barcelona.