Koscielny, Welbeck, Walcott And Gnabry Fit For Hull City
Ahead of the Saturday, October, 18th English Premier League clash between Arsenal and Hull City, news have emanated that Laurent Koscielny, who was sent back to London from the camp of the French national team, on the grounds of an injury scare and Danny Welbeck, who also had some injury worries on international duty with England, would both be fit for the encounter. Also, Theo Walcott, whose long awaited comeback from an injury sustained in January 2014, is overdue and young German Serge Gnabry, have both returned to full training and would be available for selection in the Hull City match. This would represent a massive boost for Arsenal as the season progresses. Danny Welbeck was the latest of the injury scares handed to Arsenal during the international break, as he was seen hobbling off the pitch in the 1-0 win England secured over Estonia. But after assessment and examinations, Welbeck has been declared fit.
An earlier report declared that Arsenal’s growing injury list may just have been extended to 11 players with Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Yaya Sanogo, David Ospina, Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry, Laurent Koscielny and Danny Welbeck, out on the sidelines. It was disheartening news to hear that Arsenal was going to be without 11 players, almost half a season’s squad, following the Danny Welbeck and Laurent Koscielny injury scare, but this new report of the availability of Walcott, Koscielny, Gnabry and Welbeck, would send some relief down the Arsenal supporters’ spines.
The French FA sent Laurent Koscielny who had joined up with his compatriots for international duty, back to London on account of an Achilles injury and that sent some panic among the Arsenal supporters. Koscielny had played with a chronic tendinitis of both Achilles tendons over the past few weeks and sending him back to London was just a precautionary move to help his healing process. One would recall that Koscielny missed playing for France in the last international week due to the same problem. It is no news that Arsene Wenger has close association with the French football FA and an agreement on Laurent Koscielny’s injury problem may have been reached. Therefore, though it is a minor setback for Arsenal until Koscielny is totally healed of the nagging injury, it would be such a relief to see Koscielny continue his partnership with Per Mertesacker in the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Danny Welbeck, who scored 1 goal in the 5-0 thrashing of San Marino by the Three Lions of England, was seen limping off the pitch after a 1-0 victory over Estonia in Tallinn. The 23-year-old left the pitch after appearing to go to the ground with an ankle knock towards the end of the match in Estonia. After the match England national team manager, Roy Hodgson said: ‘‘I don’t think he is injured. He just rolled his ankle slightly. The doctors are not worried about it.’’ Welbeck has led the Arsenal attack since Olivier Giroud’s injury, scoring 4 times in 6 appearances for the Gunners, which includes the hatrick scored in the UEFA Champions League encounter against Galatasaray last week.
For Walcott and Gnabry, its good news to have the duo back, though it is not likely they feature for Arsenal immediately against Hull City on Saturday. Theo Walcott, who got injured in the FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspurs in January, had been very steady in his recovery of a severe knee injury whilst Serge Gnabry has been out since April also with a knee complaint. However, the return of the two forwards seems very near as the manager has said: ‘‘Theo is doing very well, and Gnabry is doing very well too. They should be available after the international break for full training,’’ to the club’s website Arsenal.com. It would be interesting for Arsene Wenger to give Walcott some minutes in this match, but it isn’t likely as the integration of the young English man would certainly be gradual.