Unai Emery offers fitness update on Arsenal trio ahead of trip to Tottenham

Unai Emery has offered an update on the fitness of Sead Kolasinac, Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime. 

Kolasinac started for Arsenal against Bournemouth on Wednesday night and he was a constant threat down the left flank with the Bosnian international setting up Mesut Ozil for the opening goal during the 5-1 rout.

However, Kolasinac was forced off early in the second half after being replaced by Alex Iwobi in the 57th minute and Emery has confirmed the full-back was withdrawn as a precaution due to feeling pain in his muscle.

The Arsenal boss says Kolasinac could have continued but he opted to give him a breather so it sounds like the full-back should be fit and available for selection against Tottenham on Saturday.

Koscielny also gave Arsenal an injury scare after needing treatment during the closing stages of the game last night. The centre-back took a kick to his ankle and had to see-out the final few minutes as Emery had already used his three subs.

The Gunners boss says he hopes Koscielny will be able to recover over the next three days to put himself in contention for the crucial trip to Wembley this weekend.

Xhaka wasn’t included in the Arsenal squad against Bournemouth last night sparking fears he’d picked up a knock but Emery confirmed the Swiss international was just rested so he’s expected to return against Spurs.

Emery told Arsenal.com:

on Koscielny…
I hope all it is, is one kick. We have three days between today and Saturday and I hope he can be okay.

on Xhaka and Kolasinac…
Yes he is [Xhaka] okay, he was rested. Kolasinac has been having a problem in his muscle and sometimes he is telling us to rest some matches and some minutes. The first half he finished it well, but in the dressing room he was saying he can continue, but he was feeling some pain. He could continue but I preferred to change him for a rest and also he played on Sunday with a big intensity, and today I think we could do this change and carry on with another player in this match.

Arsenal head in to the weekend action sitting one point clear of Man Utd in fourth place and they can close the gap on third-placed Tottenham to just one point with a win at Wembley so Emery will be praying Kolasinac and Koscielny are available for the game.