Arsenal Team News: Emery Handed Injury Boost, Update On Lacazette, Koscielny More

Arsenal will be looking to secure top spot in Group E when we take on FC Vorskla in the Europa League in Kiev on Thursday evening.

The club have issued a full team news and injury update on Arsenal.com ahead of the game including the latest on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Alexandre Lacazette, Nacho Monreal, Dinos Mavropanos and Danny Welbeck.

We’ve been handed a timely boost as Lichtsteiner has returned to full training after recovering from a hamstring injury that’s hampered him in recent weeks so the Swiss international should be in contention to start tomorrow.

Koscielny made his long-awaited return to the pitch with a 45 minute run-out for the U23’s on Monday night after recovering from an Achilles injury that he sustained during the back end of last season. The centre-back is being assessed to see how he responds but won’t be in contention to face Vorskla.

The clubs medical department are also keeping an eye on Lacazette after he missed the 2-1 win at Bournemouth on Sunday due to a minor groin injury, however, the striker is highly unlikely to be risked tomorrow evening and should be saved for the North London Derby.

Unfortunately there is bad news on Monreal as the Spaniard has been ruled out of the upcoming double-header with Tottenham and Manchester United with a hamstring injury set to keep him out for another two weeks.

Arsenal will continue to be without Mavropanos as the young Greek defender isn’t due back in training until next month due to a groin problem while Welbeck is obviously facing a long road to recovery having broken his ankle earlier this month.

The update on Arsenal.com read:

Laurent Koscielny
Played 45 minutes in U23s match against Derby County on Monday, and continues to complete his rehabilitation. Being assessed ahead of FC Vorskla Poltava (a) on Thursday, November 29.

Stephan Lichtsteiner
Right hamstring. Back in full training.

Alex Lacazette
Groin. Being assessed ahead of FC Vorskla Poltava (a) on Thursday, November 29.

Nacho Monreal
Right hamstring. Expected to return to full training in two weeks.

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

Danny Welbeck
Right ankle. Recovering after surgery.

Lichtstiener’s return is great news and Unai Emery is expected to rest his key men ahead of the Tottenham game on Sunday so Hector Bellerin can get a breather with the 35-year-old coming in at right-back tomorrow night.

The likes of Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka, Sokratis, Bernd Leno and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are expected to be rested with Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah among those set to feature.