Arsenal Team News: Wenger Confirms Sanchez Injury Blow + Welbeck & Wilshere Update

Arsenal entertain Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon and Arsene Wenger has given a team news and injury update ahead of the game.

Unfortunately, the boss has revealed that Alexis Sanchez is a doubt for the match after picking up a hamstring injury this week. The Chilean super star has been central to our fortunes this season but he’ll be handed a late fitness test on Saturday to see if he’ll be available to face Villa on Sunday.

Wenger also confirmed that although Danny Welbeck wont feature this weekend he will return for next weeks trip to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham. The striker has been on the sidelines since suffering a thigh injury against West Ham on Boxing Day but is due to return to full training on Monday.

Another player who is closing in on a comeback is Jack Wilshere with the midfielder set to resume full training in 10 days time. The midfielder has been on the sidelines since November with an ankle injury but is set to return to training and should be playing again by late February.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still nursing a minor groin injury so he’ll join Mikel Arteta on the sidelines with the Spaniard out for the foreseeable future with an on-going calf problem.

Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on the team news…

The squad will be exactly the same as last Sunday. The only uncertainty we have isAlexis Sanchez who has a hamstring concern, and that will be decided on Saturday. He might be out for Sunday. The only [other] difference is that Gabriel is available and we’ll check him how he is physically but he should be alright to be available.

on Danny Welbeck…

Welbeck is very close. He is really, really, really nearly there. He will be available for the Tottenham game.

on Wilshere, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain…

They are not completely there yet but they are not far. Jack should join in normal training in 10 days. Welbeck on Monday. That’s where we are at the moment. Arteta a bit longer.

It was only a matter of time before Sanchez picked up an injury but thankfully it only sounds like a minor problem. I hope Wenger gives him the weekend off, and allows him to fully recover from the hamstring niggle so he’s fresh to face Spurs next weekend.