Arsenal Injury Update: Diaby, Vermaelen, Wilshere & More…

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given the latest injury update ahead of the trip to Goodison Park to face Everton tomorrow night.

Speaking to Arsenal.com, Wenger confirmed there are no fresh injury worries after the victory over Newcastle last week. Thomas Vermaelen had a slight calf knock but is fit to play tomorrow.

Abou Diaby made a goal-scoring return this afternoon, playing an hour for the reserves against Liverpool. Brazilian defender Andre Santos is fit and available but is likely to be on the bench with Gibbs continuing at left back, while Sebastien Squillaci is also back in full training.

While the squad is now looking a lot more healthy than it did a couple of months ago, we are still missing Jack Wilshere, Per Mertesacker, Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong to long term injuries. Arsene confirmed that Coquelin will be the first to return in a few weeks, but he’s still being cautious over the return of Wilshere, refusing to set a date for his return. He didn’t mention Mertesacker or Frimpong, probably because he won’t be seeing either again this season.

Here is what Arsene told Arsenal.com:

on changes in the squad from the Newcastle game…

There are no changes. Vermaelen had a kick on his calf and after the game he had a big pain but he is alright. Diaby is back but he is with the reserves at Liverpool. He will play for an hour.

on Santos…

He is fit enough to start but he was like that for the Newcastle game.

on Squillaci…

He is back in full training now.

on the injury list now, which only includes Wilshere, Mertesacker, Coquelin and Frimpong…

Coquelin will be the quickest back. It will be a few weeks until he is back in training. It is difficult to set a deadline on Jack. We go week by week with him. But his last scan was very good so we don’t have worry anymore. It is about progress and fitness, however I can’t set a date.

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