Unai Emery delivered some fairly promising news for Sead Kolasinac (thigh) owners in the final pre-match press conference of Gameweek 18, though Arsenal’s overall injury situation remains as grim as ever.
The Gunners’ boss said:
We know today, the latest news, and for example Mkhitaryan is out.
Koscielny is okay but he played two matches this week and tomorrow will be a lot for him. We also need to be calm with him, to take time for a lot of matches before he continues playing.
Sead Kolasinac, I think for tomorrow is okay. Players are continuing to recover with Sead. I don’t remember now. Mkhitaryan is out. Mustafi is also, for tomorrow, out too.
As Emery mentioned, Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) and Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) will be unavailable, as will Hector Bellerin (calf), who has been ruled out for a fortnight.
While all was quiet on the injury front at Chelsea – Andreas Christensen (hamstring) being their only definite absentee – Maurizio Sarri spoke at length about the prospect of Eden Hazard featuring as a “false nine” going forward.
The Blues’ boss said:
In the first match it was a tactical choice, then I wanted to see if the solution could work in all situations, so I needed two or three matches to be sure it’s the right solution. I explained my point of view to Giroud and we will see.
I don’t know at the moment, Giroud played 90 minutes three days ago and Morata started training with the group only yesterday after 10 days, so we will see in the last training session.
Gameweek 18, of course, gets underway at Molineux this evening.
The hosts will be missing Diogo Jota (hamstring), while Liverpool will likely again be without Trent Alexander-Arnold (foot) – though Jurgen Klopp at least had positive news on that front.
Klopp said:
It actually looks surprisingly good. I think Wolves will still be a bit too early but after that, they told me we can think about him.
But for that, he needs to train. So far he didn’t train but the pain goes down second by second, which is good, and then in the moment when he can deal with it, he is on the pitch, and in the moment he is on the pitch we’ll make a decision.
But it looks good for Trent.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first pre-match press conference as Manchester United boss was thin on team news, though Romelu Lukaku looks set to be unavailable for the trip to Cardiff on compassionate grounds.
Across the city, Pep Guardiola brought us news that David Silva (muscle) and Vincent Kompany (unspecified injury) will miss out on the visit of Crystal Palace, who will welcome back Wilfried Zaha and James Tomkins from suspension. Wayne Hennessey (back), however, is unavailable.
Richarlison has shaken off a cold ahead of Everton’s meeting with Spurs, who have Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth available after injury.
Eddie Howe had the following update on Callum Wilson, who played 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday:
It seems as though he has come through a minor hamstring injury OK. He came through the Chelsea game well so we’re hopeful he’ll be fine.
The Cherries host Brighton on Saturday, with the Seagulls set to be without wingers Alireza Jahanbakhsh (hamstring) and Jose Izquierdo (knee).
Will Hughes (hip), Andre Gray (leg), Sebastian Prödl (knee) and Adalberto Peñaranda (foot) will once again be missing for Watford, while West Ham will make a late decision on Lucas Perez (foot).
Manuel Pellegrini hinted that a return for Marko Arnautovic (hamstring) isn’t too far away, meanwhile:
I think, next week, he will be back working with the team. When you don’t have those players, you have a squad. I am happy with the options I’ve had without Marko. I’m not happy with Marko’s injury but I’m happy with my squad.
Claude Puel “hopes” to have Jamie Vardy (muscle) available for the match against Chelsea, with Ben Chilwell (knee) also in with a good chance of recovering.
Aaron Lennon (knee) is ruled out for Burnley, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson (knock) and Robbie Brady (knock) will be assessed before the trip to the Emirates.
Joe Bennett (knock) is a major doubt for Cardiff, meanwhile.
Newcastle welcome Federico Fernandez back from injury just as Ciaran Clark (ankle) is sidelined, while Fulham will be without Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (unknown) and Ryan Sessegnon (groin) for their trip to St. James’ Park.
Huddersfield Town have Steve Mounie back from suspension, while Ralph Hasenhuttl said that five Southampton players rejoined training this week – but didn’t provide us with names. Cedric Soares and Jack Stephens are among the quintet thought to be in contention for a return.
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