Arsenal Injury & Team News Update: Podolski, Chamberlain, Arteta & More…

Arsenal play their game in hand when they welcome London rivals West Ham to the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Boss Arsene Wenger has given an injury and team news update ahead of the game with the latest on Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby.

Speaking to Arsenal.com, Wenger confirmed that forward Podolski should be back in the squad after returning to full training after missing the Chelsea game through illness. Chamberlain is also pushing for a recall after also missing the Blues clash with sickness but Coquelin is out after picking up a hamstring problem.

Arteta remains on the sidelines with a calf strain and Diaby’s fitness will be assessed after he’s played four games on the bounce after returning from a long injury absence. The boss told the clubs official website:

on players returning…

We could have Podolski back in the squad because he is back to full training today. And maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain back in the squad because he has been sick. Maybe he will go out today and practise again.

on Podolski…

Yes he’s better. He was sick. He was in bed but I think he will be in full training today.

on players dropping out…

Coquelin is out because he has a hamstring problem from the Chelsea game. Everybody else has to be assessed individually but there is no major injury. Arteta is still out.

on Diaby…

Diaby is one of the guys I will have to check. You could see he was not completely physically fresh from the start on Sunday and he did dig deep to do what he did. He has played four games on the trot after being out for three months, so I will have to check him.

So, rather predictably for Arsenal, we’ve started to pick up injuries during a busy period and the squad is starting to look stretched. Central midfield is an area of concern with Arteta, Coquelin and potentially Diaby missing. With no defensive midfield cover brought in yet, it looks like Frimpong might get a rare run-out unless Wenger decides Diaby can play a fifth game in a row, which would be a massive risk.

The alternative, and most likely the option Arsene will go with, is to play Aaron Ramsey alongside Jack Wilshere in the middle of the park. Not ideal, but it’s where we find ourselves at present.

Now we’ve seen the teams, what would be your starting line-up to face West Ham? Get involved in the comments section below.