Team News: Arsenal Confirm Double Injury Boost + Update On Monreal, Koscielny & More

Arsenal have provided a full team news update ahead of our trip to Sporting Lisbon and Unai Emery has been handed a double injury boost with Sokratis and Petr Cech back in contention.

Sokratis missed the comeback victory over Leicester City on Monday night after suffering an ankle injury while away with the Greek squad during the recent international break. However, the centre-back has returned to full training and is available for our Europa League clash with Sporting on Thursday night.

Cech has been on the sidelines nursing a hamstring injury since the Watford game late last month but the goalkeeper is also back in contention against Sporting after making a full recovery.

However, it remains to be seen whether Nacho Monreal or Sead Kolasinac will make the trip to Portugal. Both players sat out the win over Leicester City due to hamstring injuries and the left-backs will need to be assessed before their availability on Thursday is determined.

Stephan Lichtsteiner deputised at left-back against the Foxes earlier this week but Emery could ask Ainsley Maitland-Niles to play in defence if Monreal and Kolasinac are ruled out after the versatile midfielder returned to full training following a fractured leg.

Dinos Mavropanos is expected to be back in training next month as he looks to return from a groin injury while the club have also confirmed that Laurent Koscielny is being integrated back in to full training as he aims to make his comeback from Achilles surgery.

The update on Arsenal.com read:

Nacho Monreal
Minor right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Sporting CP (a) on Thursday, October 25.

Sead Kolasinac
Minor right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Sporting CP (a) on Thursday, October 25.

Sokratis
Now returned to full training following right ankle bruising from international duty.

Petr Cech
Now returned to full training following left hamstring injury from Watford (h).

Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Now returned to full training following a small fracture to left fibula in August.

Laurent Koscielny
Right Achilles tendon repair. Currently being integrated back into full training.

Dinos Mavropanos
Groin injury. Expected to return to full training in November.

It’s a big boost to have Sokratis available again as our defence continues to look vulnerable at times and it’s going to be interesting to see who Emery chooses as his number one now that Cech is back. Bernd Leno has impressed during his absence so the boss has a big decision to make between the sticks.