Arsenal Injury & Team News Update: Giroud, Walcott, Diaby & More…

Arsenal take on Reading on Monday night at the Madejski Stadium looking to bounce back after Tuesday’s humiliating defeat to Bradford City in the Capital One Cup and Arsene Wenger has given a team news and injury update ahead of the game.

The boss gave the latest on Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Laurent Koscielny and Abou Diaby as well as saying he’s not sure on some players fitness as they’ve still not returned to training.

French striker Giroud missed the League Cup tie in midweek with a back injury picked up during last weekends 2-0 win over West Brom but he’s back in contention for the Reading game.

Koscielny has been forced to miss the last three games with a thigh problem but has returned to training today and should be back in the squad, but contract rebel Walcott is still missing with a calf complaint picked up against Swansea a couple of weeks ago.

The news on Diaby continues to be a worry as the boss has no idea when the midfielder will return and has already ruled him out of the festive period. Here’s what Arsene told Arsenal.com:

on the latest team news…

It’s difficult because some players are still not practising so I can still not tell you exactly who will be available on Monday. Koscielny should come into the training group today, with Walcott we don’t know but Giroud is back.

on Abou Diaby’s injury…

Slow progress. I cannot give you any fixed date because we are a bit in no man’s land on that front. He is working. We are waiting for him to come back but he is not ready.

on him playing over Christmas…

Over Christmas? Certainly not.

It’s great to have Giroud back as we certainly missed his presence up front in midweek. Gervinho through the middle didn’t work at all and Chamakh was, well…Chamakh, so it will be a boost to have a proper centre-forward back in the line-up.

But Theo’s absence is a blow as he’s been sorely missed in recent games. Whatever fans may think of his all-round game, there is little doubt he’s one of our key men going forward and the likes of Chamberlain and Ramsey don’t offer the same threat down the right side.

Diaby is a lost cause and the sooner Arsene brings in a replacement we can rely on to stay fit, the better.

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