Wenger Confirms Double Injury Blow For Arsenal + Koscielny Latest

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that both Kieran Gibbs and Yaya Sanogo have been ruled out with hamstring injuries but Laurent Koscielny has been passed fit to face Besiktas.

The Gunners boss has been speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday nights Champions League play off first leg against Besiktas when he gave the latest team news.

It was already known that Gibbs would miss tomorrow’s game after being forced off early in the second half against Crystal Palace but unfortunately Wenger has confirmed the 24-year-old now faces 2-3 weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

It means Nacho Monreal will now have to start against Besiktas, as well as our upcoming Premier League games against Everton and Leicester and the second leg against the Turks next week.

The boss also revealed that Yaya Sanogo has been left back in London nursing a hamstring problem, although he didn’t put a timescale on how long the young striker will be out for. Either way, it looks like Olivier Giroud will start against Besiktas tomorrow.

There was some good news to come from the press conference with Wenger confirming that Laurent Koscielny is in the squad and should therefore be in the line-up tomorrow. The Frenchman was a major doubt after aggravating an Achilles problem on Saturday but he trained this morning and made the trip to Turkey, meaning Per Mertesacker could stay in North London and continue to work on his fitness.

News from the press conf in Istanbul. Wenger confirms @KieranGibbs and @Yayasanogoal22 have not travelled through injury. #BESvAFC

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) August 18, 2014

Also Laurent #Koscielny is in the squad and @mertesacker has not travelled. #BESvAFC

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) August 18, 2014

At Ataturk Stadium (eventually). Wenger: "Everybody who played on Sat is available. Gibbs has a hamstring injury & will be out for 2-3 wks."

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) August 18, 2014

Change by Wenger: "Sanogo stayed at home because he has a hamstring problem. He was not comfortable this morning…I forgot him!"

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) August 18, 2014