Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Double Injury Boost But Duo Ruled Out

Arsenal will look to keep alive any fading hopes of finishing in the top four when we take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Monday night.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this morning and he’s given Arsenal.com a team news and injury update.

The boss was pleased to confirm that Laurent Koscielny could be back in contention on Monday as he’s set to resume full training today after recovering from an Achilles injury.

Koscielny sustained the problem during the first half of our 2-2 draw with Manchester City two weeks ago but he’s made a swift recovery and will be given a late fitness test to see whether he’ll be available against Boro.

Wenger also revealed that Petr Cech is set to return to the squad after missing the last three matches with a calf strain that he picked up against West Bromwich Albion last month.

Cech will join Koscielny in being given a late fitness check and while the boss says there is an 80% chance they’ll be passed fit, he’s still not ruling out the possibility they may miss the trip to Teeside.

However, there isn’t such positive news on David Ospina as the Colombian international is still out with a back injury that he suffered against Man City earlier this month.

Wenger also confirmed that Lucas Perez remains sidelined by a thigh injury that’s hampered him over the past few weeks so the Spanish hitman joins Santi Cazorla on the treatment table.

Here is what Arsene told the clubs website:

on the latest team news…
From the last game, I believe that we have a chance of getting Petr Cech back in the squad. Laurent Koscielny is joining in today. If their tests are positive, they will come back into the squad for Monday’s game.

on Lucas and David Ospina…
Ospina and Perez are still out.

on the chances of Cech and Koscielny making Monday’s game…
Eighty per cent. At the moment it’s pretty good, but sometimes the 20 per cent can play a villain’s part in the final preparation.

Arsenal head in to the weekend action sitting sixth in the Premier League table following our defeat at Crystal Palace and with fourth-placed Man City looking to open up a ten point gap with a win at Southampton tomorrow, we desperately need a result at Middlesbrough to stay in touch with the top four.