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.
What would your line-up be for the Reading game? Get involved in the comments section below.
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Sajo Manase
December 14, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Its weak squad to compete versus our opponents on monday.anyway let we hope anything can happen.arsenal fan for real.
geoff reid
December 14, 2012 at 2:27 pm
ramsey plays arsenal loose–its as simple as that.
joel
December 14, 2012 at 2:40 pm
I love as a team,but….
UMOH EKWO
December 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Only Wenger hasn’t seen that for the past two seasons, whem Ramsey starts, we hardly win but lose and the best we get had been a draw.
andymoray
December 14, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Aaron Ramsey start arsenal loose, arsene wenger on ur way pls, will dont need u anymore u and ur boys ramsey & gerviho.
cee-jay
December 14, 2012 at 2:53 pm
wenger pliz i nid 2 c arshavin in the squad including thomas eistfied and serge gnabry instead of gervino
Manish
December 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm
All that Arsenal Need is Dries Merten
Ogejohns
December 14, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Wenger has a distructive tool to finish arsenal off. And who is that tool, Ramsey.
Stuart
December 14, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Would anyone else like to see darren bent at arsenal? A proven goalscorer whos done it in the premier league, i think he’d also be available considering his situation at villa…
I agree that we now need to just replace diaby, proven that we cant rely on him at all. Someone like m’vila or luis gustavo would be ideal.
My team vs reading:
Szczesny
Sagna koscielny vermaelen gibbs
Coquelin arteta
Chamberlain wilshere cazorla
Giroud
ROSS
December 14, 2012 at 3:48 pm
The starting 11 needs a bit of a shake up, heres mine for Reading:3-5-2 or 5-3-2,whatever way you want to look at it.
Szczesny
koscielny per vermaelen
sagna gibbs
rosicky wishere arteta
cazorla
podolski
yusuf Azeez
December 14, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Stop using Ramsey,and arsenal started winning
charminggooner
December 14, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Well,for me will go for…
Scezney
Sagna Vermalen Koscielny Gibbs
Coquelin Arteta
Cazorla. Wilshere
Giroud. Poldi
I would rather play a 4-4-2 formation wch will be a change cos everyone knws wot we will do everytym we get on d pitch…two strikers gives the opposition more reasons to stay back n not come at us plus more threat coming from and also both can’t rily be off at d same time.
EMERY
December 14, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Truth be told there nothing wenger has to offer to the club again. he has lost it as simple as that. Arsenal will still loose to Reading.
Achmed Jr.
December 14, 2012 at 7:01 pm
all we need is support, Mr wenger bring in very matured players , we cnt stand dis greediness,it’s gettin into our nerves, Ramsey & forehead(gervinho) should be benched,bring in Eisfield to the first team ..& plx stop playin Ramsey on the right flank,he is a big flop. I would play 4-3-3 formation
czeszney
sagna mertesaker vermaelen gibbs
carzorla arteta wilshere
chambo podo arshav.
sylas
December 14, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Ramsey n Gervinho shld not apear on the team sheet,sczeny,sagna,per,verm,gibs.cocq,rosicky,wilshre,giroud,carzola,arshavin.
Auwal@nigeria
December 15, 2012 at 7:22 am
Pls mr wenger if u want arsenal stop using gervinho and ramsey b/c u are forehead
dmb
December 15, 2012 at 10:00 am
I would like to see a 3-2-3-2 with the following…
Kos(CB) – Per(CB) – Ver(CB)
Arteta(DM) – Coq(DM)
Sagna(RM) – Cazorla (CM) – Santos(LM)
Giroud(ST) – Podolski(ST)
Johnny
December 16, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Who cares Asssnal are crap. Mediocre club will need refs help to win on Monday.
ussypires buruku
December 18, 2012 at 6:05 pm
arsenal squad vs reading is best