Arsenal Team News: Wenger Rules Out Duo + Key Man Faces Late Fitness Test

Arsenal will be looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the table when we take on Middlesbrough 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 afternoon and he’s offered reporters a team news and injury update.

The boss confirmed that Santi Cazorla will face a late fitness test after picking up a knock during our 6-0 thrashing of Ludogorets in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Cazorla was withdrawn early in the second half after taking a kick to his achilles and given his history of issues with that particular area, Wenger was cautious to take him off swiftly and will now make a late check on the midfielder before tomorrow’s game.

The boss also confirmed that Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud are close to making their comebacks but the Middlesbrough game this weekend will still come too soon for the pair.

Ramsey hasn’t featured since suffering a hamstring injury during our defeat to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season as he’s suffered a number of minor setbacks in his recovery in recent weeks.

The Welsh international returned to training earlier this month and has been undertaking a full pre-season training regime with the aim of getting him back up to full fitness to avoid any further setbacks.

Giroud has also been on the sidelines for some time after suffering a toe injury during his cameo against Paris Saint-Germain last month and the striker has been slowly working his way back to full fitness in recent weeks.

Wenger says that Giroud could feature in our EFL Cup clash with Reading on Tuesday but Ramsey may have to wait until the following weekend’s trip to Sunderland before he can make his comeback.

Granit Xhaka will also miss tomorrow’s game through suspension, otherwise, the only other absentees are long-term injury victims Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck with the duo continuing their rehabilitation from serious injuries.

This is what Wenger told reporters this morning:

“Aaron’s progressing well. He won’t be back for Reading, but he could return in time for Sunderland.”#AFCvMFC pic.twitter.com/c6K9El5u7D

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 21, 2016

Wenger says Cazorla faces test today to see if he can play tomorrow; nobody coming back. Giroud could be involved Tuesday.

— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 21, 2016