Arsenal Team News: Wenger’s Update On Ozil, Welbeck, Koscielny + Kolasinac

Arsenal will look to continue their push for the top four when we take on Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening.

We were in fine form before the international break having gone unbeaten in our last seven matches and we’re odds-on favourites to beat Watford. If you’re going to back Arsenal be sure to get a bonus code to ensure you make your money go further.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference today and he’s given an extensive team news and injury update.

The boss revealed a fresh concern for Sead Kolasinac as the full-back picked up a hip injury while playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina during the international break.

Kolasinac was forced off at half-time during Bosnia’s win over Estonia and Wenger says he’ll now need to be assessed ahead of Watford but the early signs are positive.

Laurent Koscielny is also facing a late fitness test to determine his availability this weekend as the centre-back looks to make his return from a niggling Achilles injury.

The French international hasn’t played since our win over West Brom last month and has been training alone this week but he will be passed fit to face Watford as long as he comes through a fitness test tomorrow.

As we reported earlier, Wenger also confirmed that Shkodran Mustafi has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury so it’s vital Koscielny returns as soon as possible.

Wenger also had some positive news regarding the fitness of Mesut Ozil as the playmaker is now deemed fit and available for selection after overcoming a knee injury that’s kept him out for the last four games.

In a further boost, Danny Welbeck is also set to return to the squad this weekend after making a swift recovery from a groin injury that he picked up against Chelsea last month.

However, Alexis Sanchez will need to be assessed as he’s not due to return to training until tomorrow following his exploits with Chile but we have plenty of options in the final third so should cope even if Sanchez isn’t deemed fit enough to start this weekend.

Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on the latest team news…
I haven’t seen everybody, because some players are coming back today and some are in tomorrow, like Alexis. The minor problem we have is with Sead Kolasinac. We’ll check him today – he has a hip problem. We lost Mustafi for about four to six weeks and I don’t think he’ll be available before the next international break. Ozil and Welbeck are back in the group in normal training.

on if Koscielny could play at Watford…
Koscielny has a definite final test tomorrow. At the moment, he’s not available. He trained on his own and the first signs are positive, so we decided to give him a test tomorrow.

on whether he has defensive concerns given Mustafi and Koscielny issues…
Yes, I have. I think about sorting out the problem, but overall I will completely decide what I do tomorrow because Koscielny will have a test then. He worked quite hard physically, he looks like he is capable of playing if he survives the test. If he has no pain on his Achilles tendon, he can play. I will decide that tomorrow.

on Sead Kolasinac…
He had a little hip problem but overall I haven’t seen him yet. I will make a check up this morning, but the news we have on him is quite positive.

on Mesut Ozil…
He was not available for Germany, but he is now available yes. He had a whole week training, he is maybe not completely back physically to his best but he is available. There is no problem anymore.

on Danny Welbeck…
He is available for selection again. He is a bit quicker than expected.

Arsenal head to Vicarage Road sitting fifth in the Premier League table following our win over Brighton before the international break so we can maintain the pressure on the top four with another win this weekend.