Emery offers positive injury update after Arsenal star misses Barcelona defeat

Unai Emery is hopeful Alexandre Lacazette will be fit for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United after missing Sunday night’s defeat at Barcelona.

Lacazette sat out last week’s friendly draw against Angers after limping out of our Emirates Cup clash with Lyon last weekend with an ankle injury that he sustained midway through the first half.

The French international left the stadium wearing a protective boot sparking fears he’d done some serious damage but it soon emerged that it was just a minor ankle sprain and Lacazette wasn’t expected to be on the sidelines for too long.

The striker was able to take part in some aspects of training last week but wasn’t fit enough to travel to Spain for Sunday night’s 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Nou Camp.

Speaking after the game, Emery provided an update on Lacazette’s fitness and confirmed the medical team are optimistic he’ll be fit for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle on the opening weekend of the new season.

On Lacazette, Emery told Arsenal.com:

“Hopefully he could be available for the match against Newcastle. The doctors, they are optimistic. We are going to wait. The next days are going to be very important to see how he is going to progress with his injury.

“But I am really, really happy with other players also. If he is ready for Sunday, perfect. If he isn’t, then for the next.

“We need now to have a very competitive team, with the players ready forth next matches but above all to create a mentality to start strong and find our best performance in the next match.”

Fingers crossed Lacazette progresses well with his recovery over the coming days as it would be a big blow to lose him for our opening game against Newcastle United this weekend.

The Frenchman is an important player for Arsenal and has formed an excellent partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front so let’s hope he’s available on Sunday.

Despite not having his mate around, Aubameyang still managed to score a superb opening goal last night but unfortunately familiar issues at the back allowed Barcelona to score two late goals to consign us to a 2-1 defeat.

Let’s pray Emery has a defender or two lined-up before Thursday’s transfer deadline as we badly need some fresh blood at the back heading into the new season.