Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Injury Blow + Mustafi & Perez Update

Arsenal will look to build on the win over Watford before the international break when they take on Southampton at the Emirates 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 boss confirmed an injury blow with the news that Aaron Ramsey won’t be fit to face the Saints after failing to recover from a hamstring injury that he picked up against Liverpool last month.

The Welsh international was initially expected to return after the international break but it looks like Wenger doesn’t want to rush him back as he says the midfielder is also set to miss Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

There was some better news on the fitness of Alex Iwobi as the boss confirmed that he is back in the squad after recovering from a thigh injury that he sustained on the opening weekend of the new season.

Wenger is quoted as saying by Arsenal.com:

“Iwobi is back in the squad. The only one who is not ready is Aaron Ramsey. He is on the a good way, but not completely ready for Southampton or Tuesday.”

Fans are also hoping to get their first glimpse of new signings Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez following their moves to the Emirates shortly before deadline day but Wenger says he hasn’t decided yet whether either player will start this weekend.

Wenger says he hasn't decided what part Mustafi and Perez will play on Saturday.

— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) September 9, 2016

I personally think that Mustafi will be handed his debut with the German international starting alongside Laurent Koscielny at the back but I think Perez will have to make his bow from the bench with Olivier Giroud expected to start up front. Check out my predicted line-up here 

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