Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Positive Update On Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny + More

Arsenal take on Everton in a vital clash on Sunday afternoon that could go a long way to determining who finishes in the top four this season.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com an extensive team news and injury update with the latest on the fitness  of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny, Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott.

The Gunners boss confirmed the excellent news that Ramsey is now back in full training and could even be available to make the trip to Goodison Park this weekend. The Welshman has been on the sidelines for over three months with a thigh injury but is finally on the road to recovery and it would be a welcome boost to have him in contention against Everton.

Arsene also revealed that Monreal is back in the squad after missing the last few weeks with a foot injury, while Abou Diaby is back in training after more than a year out with a serious knee injury. It’s going to take the Frenchman a number of weeks to get back up to full fitness so I wouldn’t expect to see him in action with the first team anytime soon.

Unfortunately rumours that Ozil might be back in time to face Wigan at Wembley next week proved false with the boss stating the German won’t feature in that game but should be fit to face West Ham four days later.

Thankfully, defender Laurent Koscielny could recover from his calf injury in time to make the semi-final. Wenger also described Wilshere as making good progress but it doesn’t sound like he’s close to making a comeback, while Walcott is ‘doing well’ but will of course not feature again this season.

Here’s what the boss told the clubs website today:

on Aaron Ramsey…

Aaron and Nacho Monreal are back in the squad, so that is good news. Hopefully they will be available for Sunday. Diaby is back on the pitches, so that is good news.

on any others…

At the moment that is all because the other injured players are not back, not Wilshere, not Ozil. Everybody else is alright.

on Laurent Koscileny…

He is still out. The earliest [he will be back] is next week, the latest is the week after.

on Wilshere and Walcott…

They are alright, they are doing well. It is still early for them, of course for Theo the season is finished and Jack is progressing well.

on Mesut Ozil…

The FA Cup will be too soon for him, but after that.

Ramsey’s return to fitness is a welcome boost but I wouldn’t be expecting too much from him too soon. It’s going to take a little while for him to find his best form again and I very-much doubt he’ll start on Sunday, but he’ll certainly have an important part to play in our run-in.

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