Arsenal Injury Update – Arteta Out, Diaby Returns, & More…

Arsenal play Chelsea on Saturday in a game that will go a long way in determining who finishes third this season, and manager Arsene Wenger has given us the latest team news ahead of the game.

The bad news is that, as expected, midfielder Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for the rest of the season will an ankle injury. The Spaniard was forced off in the early stages of Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan and will now be on the sidelines for 6-8 weeks.

Arteta’s absence is a huge blow ahead of the Chelsea game but we may be able to call upon the services of Abou Diaby, after Wenger confirmed the Frenchman should be available after several months out through injury.

Yossi Benayoun is unable to play against his parent club, while Francis Coquelin won’t be considered despite being back in full training. Speaking to Arsenal.com, here is Wenger’s update:

on Mikel Arteta…

It is season over for him but he doesn’t need surgery, which is what we were scared of. So he will be out for six to eight weeks. It is an ankle problem but just a sprain.

on Yossi Benayoun…

He is ineligible. But Koscielny is back from his two-match suspension.

on Abou Diaby…

He is back in the squad. He played one half on Wednesday [in a friendly] and he will be alright now I think. We still have to be a bit cautious with him because we had so many setbacks. If all goes well he will be in the squad.

on Francis Coquelin…

He is back in full training but he has not played a game at all. He has been out for two months, his last game was at Sunderland so it is a bit early for him.

on other injuries…

We have no other worries.