Arsenal Team News: Wenger’s update on Mustafi, Walcott, The Ox & Gibbs

Arsene Wenger has offered an injury update on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Shkodran Mustafi, Danny Welbeck and Kieran Gibbs ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

Oxlade-Chamberlain limped out of our 2-1 defeat at Manchester City earlier this month after picking up a hamstring injury just 12 minutes after coming on as a second half substitute at the Etihad.

The midfielder missed the win over West Brom on Monday but thankfully the injury isn’t serious and The Ox will be back in full training on Saturday so he could return to the squad to face Palace on Sunday.

Mustafi has missed our last three games after suffering a hamstring problem during the win over Stoke City but the German international returned to full training earlier this week and the boss has confirmed he’ll be back in contention to take on Palace.

There was also further positive news regarding the fitness of Welbeck as Wenger says the striker is ‘doing well’ since returning to full training earlier this month having recovered from a serious knee injury that he picked up last season.

However, Welbeck has been on the sidelines since May so I don’t think we’ll see him back in the first team squad until some time in January.

Unfortunately there wasn’t such good news on Walcott as the winger has once again been ruled out of action against Palace after missing the win over West Brom with a calf injury.

Wenger also confirmed that Gibbs won’t feature this weekend after suffering a knee injury during our win over the Baggies but thankfully scans have shown it’s just inflammation so hopefully the full-back won’t be out for too long.

The boss told Arsenal.com:

on the Ox, Gibbs, Walcott and Welbeck…

Alex looks like he could join in normal training on Saturday. From the last game, I think we lose Kieran Gibbs. It’s not big damage to his knee but he has inflammation and I don’t think he will be available. Danny Welbeck is doing well in training, so we have plenty of options. Theo Walcott will still be short.

on Mustafi…

Shkodran is back in normal training and he will be back in the squad.

on Gibbs’ scan…

On Wednesday he had a scan, but it just showed inflammation. Hopefully it’s a short-term injury.

It will be a huge boost to have Mustafi available again as he’s been sorely missed this month with Arsenal crashing to away defeats at Everton and Man City in the German international’s absence.

I think it will also be important if Oxlade-Chamberlain is able to return to the squad this weekend as we lacked creative options against West Brom so with Walcott still out, The Ox would be a very useful player to have available on Sunday.