10 Arsenal Players Set To Miss Leicester Game As Wenger Reveals Fresh Injury Blow

Arsenal are facing a mounting selection crisis ahead of Friday’s Premier League opener against Leicester City with Arsene Wenger set to be without TEN first team players.

The boss has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this morning and he gave reporters the latest injury update and unfortunately it’s not good news.

Wenger revealed a fresh blow after confirming that Alexis Sanchez has picked up an abdominal strain and the attacker is expected to be out for at least two weeks.

The Chilean international suffered the injury in training on Sunday morning and will now miss our first two games against Leicester and Stoke while he could also be a doubt to face Liverpool at the end of the month.

Wenger told Arsenal.com:

“He had a little abdominal strain that he caught on Sunday morning in training, before he came to Wembley. He had a scan two days ago and he’s out for a while – I don’t know if it is two weeks or one more week, but he will not be available. I think he will not play at Stoke.”

Obviously it will be a huge blow to be without Sanchez for the start of the season but we have even greater concerns to worry about in defence as Per Mertesacker is also a major doubt for Friday’s clash.

The German centre-back started against Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday but was forced off with a nasty cut above his eye so will need to be assessed ahead of the Leicester game.

With Laurent Koscielny suspended, Gabriel still nursing a knee injury and Shkodran Mustafi not yet match fit following his late arrival to pre-season training it means Wenger has limited options at the back.

We also have concerns in midfield as Aaron Ramsey remains a doubt to take on Leicester after missing the Community Shield with a calf injury while Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla are all ruled out through injury.

The final player who could miss out on Friday is Mesut Ozil as Wenger has confirmed the German playmaker is still feeling the effects of an ankle injury that kept him out of the Chelsea game at the weekend.

The boss is quoted as saying by the Express:

“Plenty of uncertainties about players who didn’t play against Chelsea – Ramsey, Ozil, Mertesacker. I have players coming back who have not played [Mustafi].

It means we face being without ten first team squad players against Leicester on Friday which is a nightmare scenario heading in to the new campaign. Hopefully Mertesacker is passed fit to play or I honestly don’t know what back three Wenger will be able to put out.