Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Update On Cazorla, Wilshere & Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal will be desperate for a win to reclaim third spot when we take on relegation-threatened Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com a team news update including the latest on Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Wilshere returned to full training earlier this month after missing the entire campaign with a fractured leg but has edged closer to making his first team comeback after turning out for the under-21’s in recent weeks.

The midfielder came through his third game unscathed last week and even got on the score-sheet, leading to calls for the 24-year-old to be involved against Sunderland on Sunday.

However, Wenger says he hasn’t yet decided whether Wilshere will be included in the squad tomorrow but if he misses out, then he’ll certainly be involved for the visit of Norwich City next weekend.

Cazorla resumed full first team training last week after recovering from an Achilles injury while Oxlade-Chamberlain has been stepping-up his fitness following a long-standing knee complaint.

However, neither midfielder is in contention for the first team just yet and Arsene has hinted he may choose to play them in the under-21’s play off against Blackburn Rovers on May 3rd.

Here is what Wenger told the clubs website:

on when Cazorla or Oxlade-Chamberlain could play…

They are not ready yet and I haven’t decided yet, but there are not many games left. We still have games in the under-21s, I can put them in the play-off games [if they are available].

on if Wilshere could feature on Sunday…

I cannot plan that. At the moment I do not know if I will take him on Sunday or not. Should I take him, you cannot plan that he will play a part in the game.

on what will decide Jack’s involvement…

He made a big improvement in the third [under-21s] game. In the first two he was alright, but in the third he found his burst back, the little change of pace. If I don’t take him this weekend, I will take him [in the squad] the weekend after, certainly.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Jack’s involved against Sunderland tomorrow but I have a feeling the boss will play it cautious and keep him back for the Norwich game next weekend.

If Cazorla and The Ox feature for the under-21’s and come through the game unscathed, they could put themselves in contention for our final two league games against Man City and Aston Villa.