Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Update On Ozil, Gibbs, Monreal + More

Arsenal take on Hull City at the KC Stadium on Sunday afternoon looking to cement their place in the top four.

Ahead of the game, boss Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference today and gave Arsenal.com a team news update with the latest on the fitness of Mezut Ozil, Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal.

Gibbs missed Tuesday nights 3-1 win over West Ham after aggravating a hamstring problem in last weekend’s FA Cup semi final against Wigan, and the 24-year-old doesn’t look likely to be back in time to face Hull on Sunday.

There are also doubts over his replacement, Nacho Monreal, with the Spaniard still feeling the effects of a leg injury that he picked up during the second at at Wembley on Saturday. The problem also kept Monreal out of the midweek win over the Hammers and he’s now facing a late fitness test to see if he’ll make the trip to the KC Stadium.

However, it looks like we should have Ozil available again after he returned to training after over a month on the sidelines with a hamstring strain. The German will have a late test but it sounds as though he’ll be in the squad this weekend along with Mathieu Flamini – who returns from suspension.

Here’s what Wenger told the clubs website:

on the team news…

I think Gibbs will be out for the weekend. But Monreal is possibly available and Ozil could be available to travel as well. I will see about that on Friday and Saturday.

on Ozil’s timely return…

It’s good to have him back because we had so many offensive players out. He gives you always opportunities to score and I have to test him physically tomorrow and Saturday to see if he can travel.

on any other team news…

We have Flamini available as well because he was suspended.

Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott remain out, while Abou Diaby is still working his way back to full fitness after a serious knee injury.

It’s a huge boost to have Ozil available again as we’ve missed his creativity in the final third in recent weeks, but hopefully he can be fit enough to make an appearance this weekend and help us to another vital three points.

Arsenal head into the game sitting one point clear of Everton in fourth after the Toffees lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, so Champions League qualification is now back in our hands.

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