Arsenal Team News: Wenger Offers Injury Update On Wilshere & Sanchez

Arsenal will look to build on Wednesday’s Champions League heroics when they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning and has offered a team news and injury update.

The boss was pleased to reveal that we didn’t suffer any fresh injury problems during the 3-0 victory over Olympiacos that sealed qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

However, none of our current injured players are ready to make their comeback this weekend meaning we’ll take the same squad to Villa Park that travelled to Athens in midweek.

Alexis Sanchez is the player closest to making his first team return but Wenger has confirmed the Chilean international’s hamstring injury will keep him on the sidelines for at least another week.

There have been reports in the press suggesting that Jack Wilshere is also close to making his long-awaited comeback following a fractured fibula, with some claiming he could be back in contention for the Christmas fixtures.

However, unfortunately the boss has some bad news as when quizzed about these reports this morning, Wenger insisted there is no chance Wilshere will be fit before the end of December.

TEAM NEWS: “No new injuries. @Alexis_Sanchez is the shortest one, the rest will be back after Christmas." Watch LIVE https://t.co/fh4FyeG5tv

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 11, 2015

Boss on @JackWilshere "There is no chance he will be fit before end of December." Watch LIVE https://t.co/fh4FyeG5tv pic.twitter.com/mFzQkyxhWB

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 11, 2015

At Colney. Wenger: "We had no injuries after the game. Arteta and Sanchez will not be available, the rest back after Christmas."

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 11, 2015

So it means Jack remains on the sidelines along with Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky – who will all make their comeback’s at some point in the New Year.

We head into the Villa game sitting second in the Premier League table and with leaders Leicester not playing Chelsea until Monday night, we have the chance to move top with a win this weekend.