Arsene Wenger Gives Update On Koscielny Fitness

Arsenal are through to the semi finals of the FA Cup after beating Everton 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Captain Thomas Vermaelen came in to make only his seventh appearance of the season after Laurent Koscielny was ruled out with a hamstring injury that he picked up while away with the France national team last week.  He suffered the problem during training on Tuesday and was subsequently left out of France’s friendly win over Holland.

Arsene Wenger said on Friday that he had a chance of playing today but he wasn’t risked and the boss has now told Arsenal.com that the defender is expected to return to training on Sunday and has a chance of featuring against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Wenger told the clubs official website after today’s win:

on Koscielny’s fitness…

I think he should practice again tomorrow and he has a chance to play on Tuesday.

It would be great to have Koscielny back to face Bayern. However, as we’re highly unlikely to turn around the 2-goal deficit to progress to the quarter finals, I’d prefer we didn’t risk him. We have some huge league games coming up, starting with the trip to Tottenham next weekend, and if Koscielny plays and he’s not 100%, knowing our luck he’ll pull his hamstring and be ruled out for at least a month.

Thomas Vermaelen was solid enough today, with the exception of one mistake, so I’d prefer he started in midweek to let Koscielny fully recover in time to take on Spurs.