Even though the Arsenal and Wales midfielder was supposed to be back before the international break and has already returned to training after being out with a hamstring injury since the opening game of the Premier League season, Aaron Ramsey will not be fit enough to feature on Saturday when Swansea City and their new manager Bob Bradley come to north London.
According to the Daily Star the Welshman is not ready yet but with plenty of other options available to Arsene Wenger in central midfield, this should not be much of a problem for the Gunners this weekend. In fact, the Frenchman will still have a difficult choice to make and I have a strong feeling that Granit Xhaka is going to miss out.
The Swiss international has done well for us in recent weeks and his confidence will be high after getting the captain’s armband for his country for the first time. The problem is that Francis Coquelin is available again after his minor injury problem.
Not only does Wenger really like the combination of Coquelin and Cazorla in the middle, as proved by him starting them over Xhaka when all were fit, but the combative Frenchman and the sublime Spaniard have not been away on international duty so should be that bit fresher.
The boss has to be cute about rotating his squad from now on with games coming thick and fast but he will want to get off to a flying start and will expect the Swans to give every effort for their new manager. So will Xhaka have to wait until the Champions League match against Ludogorets on Wednesday for his next game?
Bob.