Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Triple Fitness Boost Ahead Of CSKA Clash

Arsenal will be looking to put one foot in the semi-finals of the Europa League when we take on CSKA Moscow at 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 Gunners boss was pleased to confirm he has virtually a fully-fit squad to choose from against the Russian’s tomorrow night which means Petr Cech is back in contention.

The 35-year-old missed Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Stoke City after suffering a minor groin injury last week and Cech was initially listed as a major doubt to face CSKA.

However, the goalkeeper returned to full training at London Colney this morning and is available for selection tomorrow – although Wenger refused to confirm whether it would be Cech or David Ospina who will start in goal.

Danny Welbeck is also in contention to start as he seems to have made a swift recovery from a leg injury that he picked up against Stoke at the weekend but it remains to be seen whether he’ll keep his place in attack.

That’s because Wenger has deemed Alexandre Lacazette as fit to start after the French international made a goal-scoring return off the bench against Stoke on Sunday.

Lacazette has just returned from knee surgery that kept him out for over seven weeks and he’s ready to start against CSKA but once again Wenger refused to give much away about his starting eleven.

The boss told Arsenal.com:

on the team news…
We basically have everybody available I think.

on whether Lacazette is ready to start…
Lacazette is ready to start, yes. I have not decided if he will start or not yet, but he’s available and ready to start.

on who starts in goal…
That as well… you will see that tomorrow.

Santi Cazorla is our only absentee tomorrow as the midfielder is still recovering from a serious Achilles injury while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ineligible to play in the Europa League.