Arsenal Team News & Injury Update: Koscielny A Doubt, Mertesacker Back & More…

Arsenal welcome German giants Bayern Munich to the Emirates on Tuesday night for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash.

Boss Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com a team news and injury update ahead of the game with the latest on Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Per Mertesacker and Carl Jenkinson.

Defender Koscielny played the full 90 minutes during Saturday’s shock 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers but has picked up a knock and is a doubt for tomorrow’s game after being forced to miss training on Monday.

January signing Monreal is ineligible after playing for Malaga in the group stages but Jenkinson returns to the squad after being suspended at the weekend. Fellow defender Mertesacker is also back in contention after being left out on Saturday. Here is what the boss told the clubs official website:

on team news…

What has changed is that Monreal is not available, Mertesacker will be back in the squad and there is an uncertainty about Koscielny. Jenkinson is also available again.

If Koscielny misses out we’ll be left with a huge problem. Thomas Vermaelen is expected to fill in at left back in the absence of the injured Kieran Gibbs and ineligible Nacho Monreal so we’ll either have to move the skipper back into the middle and come up with a solution for left back, or possibly move Bacary Sagna into the middle and play Carl Jenkinson at right back.

That would be my favourite solution if Koscielny is ruled out. Sagna was superb in the middle against Sunderland and Jenkinson at right back is better than having to play someone like Miquel in my opinion. But lets hope Kos makes it. I think he probably will and a back four of Sagna, Mertesacker, Kosielny and Vermaelen looks OK on paper.

Otherwise, I think the team picks itself with Wilshere, Arteta, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski and Giroud making up the rest of the starting eleven.

What would be your preferred team for the game? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below.