Alex Iwobi was left on the bench for Arsenal-s first Europa League semi-final against Atletico but despite picking up a hamstring injury against Man united on Sunday, the Nigerian international believes he will be fit and ready to play on Thursday. He said: “I am still being assessed but to me it is good and I will be okay,”
“We will have to wait and see but I believe I will be okay and fit.”
It was unfortunate that Mhkitaryan also suffered a recurrence of his injury on Sunday as well, so there is still a chance that Iwobi could play as the boss will have to choose between Wilshere, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka and Iwobi for the midfield spots alongside Aaron Ramsey. On Sunday’s form I would probably choose AM-N and Iwobi, but the Boss has never listened to me!
If Iwobi does get picked he thinks that the Gunners are very confident we can get a result in Madrid, especially with the added incentive of it being wenger’s last chance of a trophy with Arsenal. He said: “We are really motivated – especially by what he has done for the club,”
“We are trying to make him end the season on a high.
“And not just for him but for ourselves as well so we are doing our best to get the result.
“We are very confident. We were unfortunate not to get the result we wanted against them in the first leg but we are very confident and believe we can go to the final.”
It’s good that the players are in fine fettle and confident mood. We certainly bossed Atletico at the Emirates but in Spain with eleven men on the field it could be a very different game. But then again, we have nothing to lose…
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