Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed
injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker
may force him to name a second choice defence
again at Newcastle on Saturday.
France international Koscielny and German World
Cup winner Mertesacker both sat out of the 0-0
draw with Liverpool and are doubts for the Premier
League trip to St James' Park.
Koscielny remains with a back problem and
Mertesacker has struggled to shake off a sickness
bug, so Gabriel and Calum Chambers could
continue in Wenger's back-line.
"Mertesacker is still sick and we will know more
about Koscielny today," Wenger said on Thursday.
"He might have a test on his back and I will
certainly know more tomorrow morning. The less
likely to be fit is Mertesacker.
"I would like them to be available but that's part of
the season, you can't complain about that. We like
pressure. The biggest pressure in our job is to
play without pressure."
There is more promising news on England forward
Danny Welbeck and midfielder Jack Wilshere, both
of whom are progressing following knee and leg
problems that have prevented them from playing
thus far.
"Danny Welbeck is progressing well," Wenger said.
"He should be available, if all goes well, after the
international break.
"Jack Wilshere is just behind Welbeck, maybe one
week after the international break he will certainly
come back into full training."
SOLUTIONWenger insists he is still doing all he can to add to
his squad in the run up to Tuesday's transfer
deadline day but admits it has been a frustrating
time for him.
"I am always confident that a last minute situation
or solution is available, because the transfer
market is especially moving in the last four or five
days. At the moment I cannot promise you that,"
he said.
"We work very hard, you know I have a team
around me who work day and night to find good
solutions but at the moment we are not close to
signing anyone.
"I am 24 hours available per day, so I am involved
in the decision of course.
"We have specific targets but sometimes you get
an idea from somebody because you didn't know
that the player you like was available and if you get
an opportunity you do it.
"At the moment I cannot say I am very confident
because we are not close to signing anybody."
France Under-21 international Florian Thauvin, a
substitute in last week's draw at Manchester
United, could have to settle for a place on the
bench again despite scoring and setting up the
other three goals on his full debut in a much-
changed starting line-up for the midweek League
Cup victory over Northampton.
Newcastle, without a victory in the Premier League
this season after two draws and a defeat, will be
aiming to end a dismal run of seven consecutive
losses to Arsenal, a winless streak that stretches
back for almost five years.
"There were some good individual performances in midweek and it's given me plenty to think about in terms of team selection going into the Arsenal
game," Newcastle manager Steve McClaren said.
Netherlands defender Daryl Janmaat is available
after missing the trip to Old Trafford through
suspension, but McClaren could stick with the back four which earned a clean sheet against Louis van Gaal's side.
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