Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Injury Update On Ramsey & Lacazette + Ozil Sick

Arsenal will be looking to book their place in the last-16 of the Europa League when they welcome Ostensunds to the Emirates on Thursday night.

Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided a team news and injury update ahead of the game.

The boss has confirmed that Aaron Ramsey will not be in the squad to face Ostensunds tomorrow but he still has a chance of being fit to face Manchester City this weekend.

Ramsey has missed our last two games after picking up a groin problem shortly after scoring a hat-trick during our 5-1 victory over Everton at the start of the month.

The Welshman returned to training today and while he won’t feature against Ostensunds tomorrow he could still be passed fit for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with Manchester City.

Wenger also had a positive update on Alexandre Lacazette as he says the striker is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery. The striker was initially ruled out for up to six weeks but the boss says Lacazette could be back in four weeks which would be a big boost.

The boss revealed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will start tomorrow as he’s cup tied for the cup final at the weekend. Mesut Ozil won’t feature in Europe due to illness but he should be fit to face City.

He told reporters:

At Colney. Wenger: "Ramsey is not in the squad for tomorrow. He had a good training session but he is short for tomorrow. We will see how his evolution goes now until Sunday. I don't rule him out yet. It depends how well he can improve the intensity of training."

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) February 21, 2018

Lacazette is "doing well" and the striker is currently ahead of his planned recovery. Closer to four, rather than the initial six weeks suggested. #AFC

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) February 21, 2018

Wenger confirms Mkhitaryan will start against Ostersunds. Adds that Ozil was "in bed Monday, Tuesday with sickness" and that "he should be OK for Sunday."

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) February 21, 2018

We head in to tomorrow night’s game holding a 3-0 lead from last weeks first leg so Wenger is expected to heavily rotate his starting eleven with a number of players set to be rested.

David Ospina should start in goal with Petr Cech left out while the likes of Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Jack Wilshere are to be given the night off ahead of the City game this weekend.

It means we should see youngsters like Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson start against Ostensunds while Rob Holding and Calum Chambers should also be given the chance to impress.

Danny Welbeck will also keep his place up front as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ineligible to play in the Europa League so the Gabon hitman will be well rested for the City game.