Arsenal To Receive Huge Double Injury Boost Ahead Of Liverpool Showdown

Arsenal are set to receive a huge double injury boost with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac expected to return for Saturday’s showdown with Liverpool.

Both Monreal and Kolasinac have missed Arsenal’s last three matches in all competitions after suffering hamstring injuries in training earlier this month and it’s led to a headache for boss Unai Emery at left-back.

Stephan Lichtsteiner started on the left side of defence against Leicester City last week but struggled before being replaced by Granit Xhaka during the closing half-hour and the Swiss international kept his place in the unfamiliar role against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.

Xhaka was once again deployed at left-back against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon but he gave away a crucial penalty in the 82nd that cost Arsenal two valuable points as their winning streak came to an end with a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.

Some fans have been dreading the prospect of Lichtsteiner or Xhaka being up against Mohamed Salah this weekend but it seems Arsenal have been handed a double boost with Monreal and Kolasinac set to return.

Evening Standard journalist James Benge reports that both players are expected to make their comebacks when Liverpool head to the Emirates on Saturday evening – although he suggests they may even be available for Wednesday night’s League Cup clash with Blackpool.

Kolasinac and Monreal are both expected to have recovered in time for Saturday against Liverpool at the latest

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) October 28, 2018

The news will be a huge boost to Emery and will give him vital options at left-back again. It would have been a nightmare for the Gunners to have Xhaka up against Salah and while the Egyptian super-star is sure to still give Monreal or Kolasinac plenty of problems, it will be a relief for Arsenal to have a specialist left-back available again this weekend.

Arsenal head in to the game on Saturday sitting fourth in the Premier League table and four points adrift of Liverpool so they need a positive result or risk being cut further adrift from their rivals.