Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Double Boost Ahead Of Spurs + Key Man Ruled Out

Arsenal will look to give their top four hopes a major boost when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday 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 a team news and injury update.

The Gunners boss confirmed some positive news on Laurent Koscielny as the defender still has a chance to be available this weekend despite picking up a knee injury on Wednesday night.

Koscielny needed treatment after landing awkwardly during the closing stages of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Leicester City and there were concerns he may have suffered a serious injury.

However, Wenger says the initial signs are positive and while Koscielny will be further assessed ahead of the game, the centre-back has a 60-40 chance of being fit to face Spurs.

The French international’s availability will be important for Arsenal as fellow centre-back Shkodran Mustafi is still two weeks away from recovering from a thigh injury.

Mustafi has missed the north Londoners recent games with Middlesbrough, Man City and Leicester and it looks like he’ll now also sit out the upcoming matches with Spurs, Man Utd and Southampton.

However, there was better news regarding the fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as Wenger confirmed that midfielder is fit and available to start this weekend after not featuring in midweek.

Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up a minor foot problem during the FA Cup win over City last weekend and wasn’t risked against Leicester but the 23-year-old is set to return against Spurs on Sunday.

Wenger is quoted as saying by Football London:

On the latest team news
The uncertainty at the moment is about Laurent Koscielny but the news yesterday was quite positive so he has a good chance of being available

On how long it will be for Mustafi
I would say two weeks.

On Koscielny’s chances of playing
60/40 that he plays.

On whether Oxlade-Chamberlain is fit enough to start
He will be fit enough to start. It was more precautionary that I left him on the bench on Wednesday.

Arsenal head in to the game sitting sixth in the Premier League table but can move to within one point of Man Utd and two of fourth-placed Man City with a win over Spurs on Sunday.

However, victory for the home side would not only severely dent Arsenal’s chances of finishing in the top four but it would also ensure Spurs finish above their north London rivals for the first time in 20 years.