Arsenal Pre-Spurs Team News & Injury Update: Sagna, Diaby & Gibbs

Arsenal take on north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon for what’s going to be a vital game for both clubs hopes of securing Champions League football next season.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal.com a team news and injury update ahead of the clash with the latest on Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby and Kieran Gibbs.

We’ve been dealt a huge blow with the news that right-back Sagna will not feature after failing to recover from a knee injury. The Frenchman missed last weeks win over Aston Villa after tweaking ligaments in his right knee and there were reports earlier in the week that he was winning his race to be fit, however Wenger has confirmed the 29-year-old is not yet ready to return.

There is also a major question mark over midfielder Abou Diaby, who is rated at around 50-50 to be fit after picking up a minor calf problem, but left-back Gibbs is still working his way back to fitness and is still some weeks away from returning.

Here’s what the boss told the clubs official website.

on Bacary Sagna…

He is not ready for Sunday. It is too short for him.

on other team news…

Abou is an uncertainty. He has a calf problem, a minor one. It is question of days. He will have tests and then we will see if we can use him on Sunday or not. It is a 50:50. Actually maybe a bit more for him playing.

on Kieran Gibbs…

Kieran is not back. That was as we expected.

With Sagna out, young Carl Jenkinson will continue to deputise at right-back. Bac is going to be a huge miss as he’s a true warrior who’s played in his fair share of NLD’s before, but Jenko is a Gooner so will know how much this game means to the club and fans, so should be right up for it.

I can’t see too many changes from last weeks starting line-up. If Diaby misses out I think Arsene will bring Aaron Ramsey into midfield and keep Santi Cazorla out on the left. The only other possible change may come at the back with Koscielny pushing Mertesacker for a starting place alongside Vermaelen.

Now we’ve seen the team news what would be your starting line-up? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below.