Arsenal pair Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are both expected to return for the visit of Premier League strugglers Chelsea after recovering from injuries. Ozil missed the goalless draw with Stoke City due to a foot problem while Sanchez has not played since November with a hamstring injury.
The Chile international will be assessed over the coming days to determine his fitness for the game, having returned to training after six weeks out. The 27-year-old was expected to return at the Britannia Stadium but was held back for the crunch top flight clash and the resumption of his campaign to reinvigorate the Gunners attack.
Compared to last week we have no big problems for the squad that was available against Stoke, Wenger told reporters in a pre-match press conference to preview the Chelsea fixture. The good news is that Ozil will certainly be available and Sanchez... the next two days will be decisive but this time he will might make it for selection.
I think we have done extremely well in dealing with this period when we have had big players out, the Arsenal boss added. It is a good opportunity to have everyone back because we want to do well in the FA Cup and the Champions League and we have a very important schedule and it is good to have everyone back. When you have 70 minutes gone and you have a big chance to win the game this variety is very important.
The doubt [over Sanchez] is that he has been out for a long time and you have to rate the risk of a setback. If you try to go too early you might. After he is clear on all the tests is one thing, after that he has training and after that the intensity of the game.
You can never repeat in the training session the intensity of the game but you have to make sure the risk after a certain period of time is minimal. I am cautious with him because we cannot afford a setback because that would mean a very long period out, we do not want to take risk. What Sanchez has shown in training this week was very positive.
The Arsenal injury list still includes a host of players but Wenger has confirmed that midfielders Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky – as well as striker Danny Welbeck – are closing in on a return. Coquelin has resumed first-team training ahead of schedule following a knee problem, Rosicky will face Swansea City in an Under-21 match next week while Welbeck – who has been out since last April – is a week away from recommencing training.
Coquelin is back in full training today ahead of schedule, Wenger explained. Welbeck will be in full training next week so that is positive news. Rosicky will play tomorrow night with the Arsenal Under-21s. There are a few players coming back. Were going through a very important period so to have people available is important for us.
