If there was any chance of the Arsenal and England international midfield star Jack Wilshere shaking off his latest injury problem in time to help the Gunners in the first game of our Premier League campaign then I am sure that Arsene Wenger would have had him in the squad that has gone to Scandinavia for the final two games of pre-season.
As reported by the Evening Standard, though, the injury plagued Gunner has been left behind while his team mates fly off to face Viking FK tomorrow night and then Manchester City on Sunday.
The problem is the Patella in Wilshere’s troublesome knee and although it is said to be only a minor injury that will not keep him out of action for long, it is a blow as we do not have Santi Cazorla or Mesut Ozil available for the clash with Liverpool next weekend either.
One bit of good news is the inclusion in the squad of our Brazilian defender Gabriel who missed the trip to America due to Tonsilitis. Wenger will be hoping that his only properly experienced centre back will be fit and sharp for the EPL opener, while the inclusion of Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey suggests that he is considering one or both of them for the Liverpool game as well. Here is the squad in full.
GK: Petr Cech, David Ospina, Emiliano Martinez.
Defence: Mathieu Debuchy, Nacho Monreal, Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs.
Midfield: Francis Coquelin, Krystian Bielik, Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Iwobi, Granit Xhaka, Santi Cazorla, Gedion Zelalem, Jeff Reine-Adelaide.
Forward: Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chris Willock, Alexis Sanchez, Joel Campbell, Chuba Akpom.
How do you think Arsenal will line up against the Anfield mob next Sunday?