Team news: Arsenal offer update on Koscielny & Maitland-Niles ahead of Southampton

Arsenal will be looking to keep the pressure on the top four with a win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, the club have issued a team news and injury update on Arsenal.com which includes the latest on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny and Ainsley Maitland-Niles along with long-term injury absentees Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck.

Koscielny limped off during the early stages of Arsenal’s Europa League victory over BATE Borisov at the Emirates on Thursday night after feeling discomfort in his lower left leg – sparking fears over his troublesome Achilles.

However, Unai Emery claimed in his post-match interview that the injury wasn’t thought to be serious and the club have now confirmed that Koscielny has suffered only a minor issue with his calf muscle.

The Frenchman will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s clash with Southampton but I don’t we’ll take too many risks with Koscielny so Sokratis is on stand-by for a recall if the 33-year-old is ruled out.

Maitland-Niles missed last night’s win over BATE due to illness and Arsenal have confirmed the versatile midfielder is also a doubt to face Southampton this weekend so Stephan Lichtsteiner could continue at right-back.

Otherwise, we have no other fresh concerns to worry about but Emery will obviously still be without Bellerin, Holding and Welbeck as they remain on the sidelines with season-ending injuries.

A team news update on Arsenal.com read:

Laurent Koscielny
Minor issue to left calf. Being assessed ahead of Southampton (h).

Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Illness. Being assessed ahead of Southampton (h).

Hector Bellerin
Left knee. Recovering after surgery.

Rob Holding
Left knee. Recovering after surgery.

Danny Welbeck
Right ankle. Recovering after surgery.

Arsenal head in to the weekend action sitting fifth in the table – level on points with Chelsea and just one adrift of fourth-placed Man Utd – so we’ll be looking to boost our Champions League qualification hopes with a win on Sunday.