Skip to main content

Arsenal Striker Alexis Sanchez is a Major Doubt for Sunderland Clash while Oxlade-Chamberlain is out

Arsenal's top scorer Alexis Sanchez faces a fitness test to determine his availability for Tuesday's Premier League clash against relegated Sunderland while midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out, manager Arsene Wenger said. Sanchez was withdrawn with a thigh injury during Arsenal's 4-1 win over Stoke City on Saturday that kept Wenger's team in the hunt for a top-four berth. Defender Laurent Koscielny is also doubtful due to a calf problem.

"We have a little bit of a problem with Koscielny but we should have everyone available," Wenger told a news conference on Monday.

"Alexis should have a test today. It didn't look good but with him he is always so eager. (Kieran) Gibbs should be available but Oxlade-Chamberlain is out."

Arsenal are currently fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and four adrift of third-placed Liverpool, who have played a game more.

Arsenal need one of their rivals to slip up to have a shot at Champions League qualification, but Wenger is pleased by the desire his team have showed in recent weeks, with the win at Stoke marking their third consecutive league victory.

"I am very positive because it looks like we get stronger in every game," he added. "We won six of the last seven games. We look strong again away from home.

"We have created momentum again. We had a difficult period and recovered from it. I think the only chance we have now to be in the top four is to win all of our games."

Despite the improvement, Arsenal look set to spend next season without Champions League football in what could be the first time in more than 20 years that Wenger's team will not feature in Europe's elite club competition. Wenger said a lack of Champions League involvement would not have any impact on the quality of players that Arsenal would be able to sign in the close season.

"I believe finishing outside the top four will not have any influence on how the club will be led and how we will operate on the transfer market," he added.

The manager, whose future has been the subject of speculation in the media and who is out of contract at the end of the season, did not clarify whether he would sign a new deal with Arsenal.

Source: Supersport
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Juventus Manager Allegri Signs Contract Extension Untill 2020

Massimiliano Allegri has signed a new contract with Juventus, keeping him with the Serie A side until 2020, the Turin outfit have confirmed. The 49-year-old will remain at Juventus Stadium for another three seasons, having guided the Old Lady to a third successive domestic double. Allegri helped Juve win the Serie A and Copa Italia titles this season, and guided them to the Champions League final. Since taking over at Juventus Stadium in 2014, he has won the domestic double each season and has a 69 per cent winning rate. The former midfielder had been linked with a move to Arsenal before Arsene Wenger agreed a new two-year deal, but will now remain in Turin until the end of the 2019-20 season. In a statement, Juventus said: "Juventus is pleased to announce that Massimiliano Allegri has signed a contract renewal at the club until 2020. "Today's agreement extends a working relationship that has seen the Bianconeri consolidate their position as Italy's...
Post a Comment
Read more

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Could Make Man United Return this Year, Says Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is confident Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available for Manchester United before the end of the year. The Swedish striker - who has been regularly updating his Instagram followers of his rehabilitation from a knee injury - has this week begun doing some very light ball work with the club's coaching staff at Carrington. Ibrahimovic signed a new one-year deal at United on August 24 after the first serious injury of his career cut short a stellar first season at Old Trafford earlier this year. The player's doctor Freddie Fu has warned against rushing his return and United boss Jose Mourinho had previously suggested he will not play for the club in January but has reassessed that prediction. "(Paul) Pogba is not here I don't know when he will be back," he said. "Zlatan is working under our control here as I would expect. He is working so, so hard but he won't be back in the next week or the next couple of weeks. "He nee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arsenal Complete Signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund on Club Record Deal

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record fee, understood to be £60m. The Gunners have gradually and significantly improved their offer for Aubameyang, having started at £44m, and the fee eventually agreed eclipses the figure paid to Lyon for Alexandre Lacazette last summer.  For a long time, Dortmund tried to have Olivier Giroud included in the deal, but the Frenchman preferred to remain in London and is expected to join Chelsea, who in turn will allow Michy Batshuayi to move to BVB as Aubameyang’s replacement. The length of Aubameyang's Arsenal deal has not been confirmed, with the club saying the Gabon international striker has signed "a long-term contract". Arsenal announced on their official website the transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes and the 28-year-old's squad number will be confirmed soon. A statement from Arsenal confirmed: ‘The 28-year-old has join...
Post a Comment
Read more