Arsenal go into their FA Cup game with Preston feeling the full effects of the busy festive period.
Arsene Wenger is expected to ring the changes at Deepdale regardless, but his job hasn’t been made easy by the number of injuries suffered over Christmas and New Year.
Speaking to reporters about his plans, the Gunners boss confirmed:
1 – Francis Coquelin will be out for the next three weeks having come off against Bournemouth with a hamstring injury.
2 – On Mesut Ozil’s flu, he reflected: “He has spent two weeks in bed – I cannot imagine that I will involve him on Saturday”. It’s likely he would have rested the Germany international anyway against the Championship outfit, but he’s had that particular dilemma taken out of his hands.
3 – Wenger is not taking the FA Cup lightly. Not only is it the only trophy his side have won in the last 12 years, the magic of the old competition isn’t lost on the Frenchman. “It’s a big priority for us,” he admitted – no surprise, really, after dropping two more points in the title race against Bournemouth.
4 – Another notable absentee will be Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean’s body language has been under scrutiny after he threw his gloves to the floor at the final whistle against the Cherries, prompting suggestions he may seek a move away. “What is surprising there? We want to win games so of course you’re frustrated,” was Wenger’s response to inevitable questions about his star man. He added that Sanchez was “alright” in the dressing room.
5 – Sanchez’s frustration might well have stemmed from the length of Olivier Giroud’s celebration, which took up time Arsenal could have used to score a winner. Not only did Giroud’s fake scorpion kick irk the travelling support, Wenger admitted: “You understand both – the players celebrate, but ideally you want the guys to take the ball and put it in the middle of the pitch.”
On a side note, he also revealed there are as yet no offers for Carl Jenkinson or Mathieu Debuchy, both of whom have been told they can leave the club.
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