Emery Confirms Double Fitness Boost Ahead Of Arsenal’s Trip To Southampton

Unai Emery has confirmed a double fitness boost with Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil expected to be fit for Arsenal’s trip to Southampton on Sunday afternoon. 

Ramsey was forced to miss last weekend’s win over Huddersfield Town and Thursday night’s Europa League win over Qarabag with an ankle injury that he sustained during the 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier this month.

However, Emery has confirmed the Welsh international is due to resume full training ahead of the game and put himself in contention for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Southampton at St Mary’s.

In a double boost, the Arsenal boss has also revealed that Ozil will be available for selection tomorrow after making his first appearance in almost a month with a run out against Qarabag on Thursday night.

Ozil missed the games with Bournemouth, Vorskla, Tottenham, Man Utd and Huddersfield due to a back problem but he started in the Europa League in midweek and assisted Alexandre Lacazette for the winning goal.

As long as he doesn’t suffer any adverse reaction over the next 24 hours, Emery feels the German playmaker will be fit and available for selection against Southampton.

The boss is quoted as saying by Football London:

“We think yes [Ramsey will be available]. The doctors say to me they think Friday or Saturday he can train and he will OK for Sunday.”

“I think after his injuries he [Ozil] is coming back with good work and on Thursday he played with a good performance. I think also he is OK for Sunday.”

Having Ramsey and Ozil available again increases our options in the attacking third but it will be interesting to see if either player starts on Sunday. Ramsey fell out-of-favour under Emery this season but played his way back in to his first team plans with a superb display against Tottenham and started against United so he’ll be hoping to get the nod tomorrow.

Ozil’s first team place has also come under threat amid reports Emery is disappointed with his work ethic so it will be interesting to see if the 30-year-old starts on Sunday or if the likes of Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are selected ahead of the former Real Madrid star.

While we may have plenty of options going forward, Emery is facing a headache in defence as Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi are suspended while Rob Holding has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Laurent Koscielny made his first appearance in over seven months on Thursday night so Arsenal will be praying he doesn’t suffer any reaction and is able to start against on Sunday. The Frenchman could line-up in a back three alongside Nacho Monreal and Stephan Lichtsteiner.