Arsenal boss confirms key duo are injury doubts for crucial Napoli clash

Unai Emery has confirmed Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny are doubts for Arsenal’s crucial Europa League quarter final with Napoli on Thursday night.

Xhaka missed this afternoon’s frustrating 1-0 defeat to Everton after failing to recover from a groin injury that he picked up while playing for Switzerland during the international break last month.

Koscielny sat out our win over Newcastle last Monday with a foot problem and Emery has confirmed the centre-back was ruled out of today’s trip to Goodison Park after being assessed by the medical staff at London Colney on Saturday afternoon.

The Arsenal manager has revealed that both Xhaka and Koscielny will need to be carefully monitored over the coming days but the key duo are doubts for Thursday night’s Europa League quarter final final first leg with Napoli.

Aaron Ramsey played the second half against Everton today after coming off the bench at half-time and Emery has confirmed they didn’t want to risk the Welshman from the start as there were doubts over whether he’d last 90 minutes having picked up a groin problem against Newcastle.

Speaking after this afternoon’s defeat to Everton, Emery told Arsenal.com:

on Ramsey starting on the bench…
He was better and it was his idea to play but we spoke with the doctor and we had a doubt over him playing 90 minutes. We decided for him not to start, then after we needed him to come on.

on Koscielny and Xhaka for Thursday…
I don’t know. Maybe Laurent could’ve come back to play today but yesterday we knew it wasn’t possible. I want to be positive for Thursday but it depends how he’s progressing. Xhaka is the same. They are doubts for Thursday.

Arsenal will be praying Koscielny and Xhaka recover over the next few days as it would be a huge blow to be without them against Napoli. Once again we failed to keep a clean sheet away from home today so we badly need Koscielny against a dangerous Napoli side on Thursday night.

Our midfield was overrun this afternoon against Everton with Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi both struggling and I think it was clear we missed Xhaka in the middle of the park.

Thankfully Lucas Torreira will be available against Napoli having been suspended today and Ramsey should be 100 percent fit again so Arsenal will have two more options in midfield even if Xhaka fails to prove his fitness.