Arsenal team news – Ramsey out, Alexis doubt, Iwobi boost

With Arsenal facing two important games in the space of the next four days, with the second one being the potentially pivotal Champions League group match against the French champions PSG, Arsene Wenger will have been hoping to have as strong and as fit a squad of players to choose from after the international break.

Unfortunately the Frenchman has revealed on the Arsenal website that our Welsh international midfield star Aaron Ramsey, who did so well at the Euro 2016 tournament this summer, has not recovered in time from the hamstring injury he picked up in the disappointing defeat at home to Liverpool on the opening day. And not only will Rambo be out of action for the Premier League clash with Southampton, Wenger said that he will not be ready to play in Paris on Tuesday either.

Another doubt, although the boss did say he will have to wait to make a final decision on this matter, is Alexis Sanchez, as the Chilean did not get back to London until Thursday night after his international games in South America. The boss clearly has the European match in mind as well and I would not be surprised to see him keep Sanchez fresh for that one.

He can do that with a bit more confidence, however, thanks to the return to fitness of the exciting and talented young forward Alex Iwobi, who like Ramsey picked up his injury against Liverpool.

Wenger said, “I haven’t seen Alexis and David Ospina because they arrived late last night. Everyone looks alright.

“That’s a decision I have to make because we play on Tuesday night so I will see. I have to make that decision in the next 24 hours.

“Iwobi is back in the squad. The only one who is not ready is Aaron Ramsey. He is on the a good way, but not completely ready for Southampton or Tuesday.”

The loss of Ramsey is a blow but with Arsenal having good central midfield options in Coquelin, Cazorla, Elneny and Xhaka, will the Gunners be able to cope without him?

Bob.

8 Comments

      1. For Southampton:
        Cech
        Bellerin – Mustafi – Koscielny – Gibbs
        Xhaka – Cazorla
        Walcott – Ozil – Iwobi
        Perez

        For PSG:
        Cech
        Bellerin – Mustafi – Koscielny – Monreal
        Xhaka – Cazorla
        Sanchez – Ozil – Iwobi
        Giroud

  1. Finally the pl returns. Gunning for the three points today,the squad we hve has enough quality for todays game and also for tuesday so no need to rush players into the team. As for rambo he currently not a key figure in the squad so his unavailability will not affect as that much. Sanchez is key if he isnt fit enough to start he should feature from the bench as we also hve good enough backups. Lets get the form going on coyg!!

  2. we should start with Xhaka and Coquelin against PSG for a more compact midfield to make it difficult to break us down. Mustafi needs to play Vs Southampton to get some game time with his team mates before the European game as does Perez but we also need to make sure they’re fit after and so i would play both for 45 mins maybe an hour and then sub them both along with Ozil.

  3. Alexisis is not a machine as much as we want him to start he should be on the bench, I think ox and unfortunately Theo will start.

    My x11 based on wen gets thinking would be

    Cech
    Bell, mustf, Kosc, Mon
    Santi Coq
    Theo ozil ox
    Perez

    I think with xhaka playing 2 internationals and psg mid week he might be benched, with Coq being fresh n all that. Same goes for giroud and he was apparantley very poor midweek n still lacking full fitness according to most observers.

    Psg line up

    Cech
    Bell mustf Kosc mon

    Xhaka Elneny
    Theo (wenger loves hiim) ozil sanchez
    Giroud.

    1. you mean luckily Theo will start. In that first line-up the biggest goal-threat we can definitely book on is walcott

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