Arsenal Wenger revealed the team news ahead of the Premier League match on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. Interestingly, left back Nacho Monreal has made a quicker than expected recovery from his back injury. The Spaniard was penciled down for a return after the international break in mid October, but he would be in the squad to face Chelsea on Sunday. He remains the only player that has returned from injury which is a boost as Arsenal are short on defensive options.
The manager also confirmed that every other player that featured in midweek against Galatasaray is fit, while Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry have returned to light training, but they would be too short to play a part at Stamford Bridge.
The manager said thus:
“Compared to midweek, the only player who might be back for us in the squad is Nacho Monreal. As for everybody else, there is no change.”
He confirmed the delightful news that Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry are back in training
“Yes, they come back next week to the full squad for training, but they are too short for Sunday of course.”
The omen seem good ahead of the trip to West London on Sunday, seeing that Nacho Monreal is back in the squad after sitting out the last five matches, and in those matches, Arsenal lacked any adequate defensive cover which means they were threading on thin ice.
With the former Malaga left back the only returnee from the long list of injuries which includes Yaya Sanogo, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Debuchy and Oliver Giroud. Four of which would have likely started at Stamford Bridge.
What this means is that the only change anticipated for the match could be Jack Wilshere coming into the lineup after being rested in midweek because of an ankle knock. Who he comes in to replace is another thing altogether.
As the trip to Stamford Bridge is the last match before another international break, Arsene Wenger would at least be hoping that all the players come out unscathed from the match, seeing that last weekend’s match in the North London derby cost Arsenal two players.
With so much at stake in the Bridge, and the opportunity to right the wrong of the 6-0 defeat of last season, the players would at least be pumped up to deliver a strong performance as the likes of Calum Chambers, Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere were not part of the team that lost scandalously last season.