Arsenal Boss Confirms Triple Blow After Ruling Key Trio Out Of Liverpool Clash

Arsene Wenger has confirmed a triple blow after ruling Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny out of  Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Liverpool.

Ozil is due to return to pre-season training today after being granted an extended break following his exploits with Germany at Euro 2016 where he helped them reach the semi-finals before crashing out to France.

Koscielny and Giroud both played for the hosts in the final defeat to Portugal in Paris last month and the duo aren’t expected to start their pre-season preparations until Monday morning.

With just over a week to go before the Gunners welcome Jurgen Klopp’s men to the Emirates, Wenger has confirmed that the trio won’t be available to face the Merseysiders on Sunday 14th.

He told Arsenal.com:

on Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud…

Liverpool would come too early.

Wenger was speaking after Arsenal’s resounding 8-0 friendly win over Viking in Norway last night where Santi Cazorla got a vital 90 minutes under his belt so he could now be winning his race to be match fit to face Liverpool.

Jack Wilshere is also a doubt for next weekend after missing Arsenal’s tour of Scandinavia with a minor knee injury while Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck are certain to miss out with long-term injuries.

It will therefore come as a huge blow for the North Londoners to be without Ozil, Giroud and Koscielny for the Liverpool game. Wenger should have adequate cover for Ozil and Koscielny but the Frenchman is lacking options up front and may have little choice but to start Theo Walcott through the middle next weekend.