Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Update On Gibbs, Diaby, Wilshere + More

Arsenal will look to go one step closer to securing a top four finish when they take on Newcastle United at the Emirates on Monday night.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his weekly press conference today and gave Arsenal.com a team news and injury update including the latest on Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott.

Let’s start with the good news and it seems we’ve picked up no fresh injuries from the 3-0 win over Hull City last weekend meaning that Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil came through the game unscathed having returned to the starting eleven.

There is also further positive news with Thomas Vermaelen likely to be back in contention to face Newcastle on Monday after recovering from a hamstring injury that’s sidelined him in recent games.

However, the boss confirmed that Gibbs is not yet recovered from his own hamstring issue so wont feature this weekend which means Monreal is likely to continue at left-back.

As we reported earlier, but hasn’t been expanded upon by Arsene in his interview with Arsenal.com so we included the tweet, he told reporters that Diaby won’t be in contention as he suffered another injury set-back after picking up a minor groin complaint while playing 45 minutes for the under-21’s on Tuesday night, so the midfielder joins Wilshere and Walcott on the sidelines.

Wenger gave an update on Wilshere’s situation and says he’s ‘progressing well’ and should be back in the squad for the last couple of games against West Brom and Norwich, but of course Walcott won’t play again this season due to a serious knee injury.

Here’s what the boss told the clubs website:

on the latest team news…

Everybody who was available at Hull last week will be available for Newcastle. Vermaelen could be back so everybody should be there but not Gibbs, not Diaby yet. Of course Wilshere and Walcott are still out as well.

on Jack Wilshere…

Jack is progressing well. He is still on course to be with the team in the last couple of games.

Wenger on Diaby: "He had a little groin problem after [under-21] game so will not be available on Monday" http://t.co/QrpCR2SEYf #AFCvNUFC

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 25, 2014

I expect Arsene to stick with the same eleven that started against Hull as we looked far more like the Arsenal from the first half of the season that day. The return of Ramsey and Ozil made a huge difference and Podolski deserves to retain his place after scoring four goals in his last two games.

What team would you like to see Arsene put out this weekend? Share your views below.