Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Double Injury Blow + Duo Back For Man Utd Clash

Arsenal will look to bounce back from their North London Derby defeat when they take on Manchester United at the Emirates 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 revealed that Granit Xhaka is a major doubt for the game against United after picking up a calf injury during the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Xhaka was substituted midway through the second half at White Hart Lane and while Wenger says there is a small chance he’ll be fit, it appears the Swiss international is unlikely to recover in time to take on Jose Mourinho’s men on Sunday.

In a double blow for Arsenal, Wenger has also confirmed that Lucas Perez is expected to miss out this weekend after suffering a fresh minor set-back in training this week.

Perez has only recently returned to full training after being sidelined by a niggling thigh injury but it looks as though the Spaniard is going to have to wait a little while longer before he can make his comeback.

However, there was some more positive news for the Gunners as Shkdoran Mustafi could be back in the squad against United after Wenger confirmed the defender has resumed full training.

Mustafi has missed Arsenal’s last four games due to a thigh problem but the German international is now fully fit and pushing for a recall to the starting eleven this weekend.

In a further boost, David Ospina is also back in contention after overcoming a back complaint that’s kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks, although a place on the bench is probably the best the Colombian international can hope for against United.

Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on team news…
We still have Granit Xhaka out from the kick he got in the game. Mustafi’s back in normal training. That’s basically it.

on Xhaka’s injury and his chances for the weekend…
It’s a kick to the calf. There is a little chance.

on David Ospina…
Yes [he’s back to full fitness].

Wenger is also quoted as saying to the Mirror:

“Lucas Perez is back in training but he will miss the next two days as he got a kick in training yesterday.”

Arsenal currently sit sixth in the Premier League table following last weekend’s defeat to Spurs but they can move to within two points of United with a game in hand if they come out victorious on Sunday.