Arsenal team news: Gunners offer injury update on Koscielny & Xhaka ahead of Napoli

Arsenal will be desperate to secure a first leg lead in our Europa League quarter-final when we welcome Napoli to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

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 Granit Xhaka as well as our long-term absentees.

Koscielny has missed Arsenal’s last two games against Newcastle United and Everton due to a foot injury and the club have confirmed he’ll be assessed to see if he can return to face Napoli tomorrow night.

Unai Emery suggested last weekend that Koscielny was close to being involved at Everton so hopefully the centre-back will be passed fit to return to the squad against the Serie A giants.

Xhaka has also sat out our previous two matches with a groin injury that he sustained while playing for Switzerland against Denmark during the international break late last month.

The midfielder is also close to making his comeback as he was spotted taking part in individual training ahead of the Everton game last Sunday so fingers crossed Xhaka is able to face Napoli tomorrow night.

Otherwise, Emery has no fresh injuries to worry about but obviously the Arsenal boss will continue to be without Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck as they’re out for the rest of the season with serious injuries.

The team news update on the official Arsenal website said:

Laurent Koscielny
Bruised left foot. Being assessed ahead of Napoli (h).

Granit Xhaka
Left groin. Being assessed ahead of Napoli (h).

Hector Bellerin
Left knee. Recovering after surgery.

Rob Holding
Left knee. Recovering after surgery.

Danny Welbeck
Right ankle. Recovering after surgery.

Arsenal head into the Napoli game off the back of an extremely disappointing 1-0 defeat at Everton which dented our hopes of finishing in the top four so we desperately need to get back on track with a win in the Europa League tomorrow night.