Injury update: Walcott, Giroud, Koscielny and Diaby

Details: Written by Barnaby Merrill; Published: Friday, 14 December 2012 19:49

Arsene Wenger has given the usual team news ahead of Arsenal's clash with Reading on Monday night, with a couple of key absentees returning to the fold as the Gunners look to bounce back (again) from the supreme embarrassment of Tuesday night.

The French are coming

Olivier Giroud is fit for selection after his back problem kept him out against Bradford, as confirmed by the man himself on Twitter.

His return will be welcome following the performances of various centre-forward replacements in his absence.

Meanwhile Laurent Koscielny defied the odds by returning from a three-week injury after, well, three weeks.

His strain was expected to keep him out longer due to Arsenal's rehab record, but that's not the case and he can now put pressure on Thomas Vermaelen once more.

Theo-you later

Theo Walcott remains out after injuring himself against Swansea, and with January looming and his contract unsigned, you'd be a fool not to think the two are related.

His injury was supposed to be minor and it's been two weeks now with seemingly no progress.

Tragedy

Abou Diaby is in 'no-man's land' with his injury and won't play until at least the new year.

You have to feel for him, he tried so hard to get fit for the season, started so well and then received a minor injury that his body simply can't take.

He's got something deeply wrong with his muscles, and you'd have to say he's a write-off.

The rumours about Mohamed Diame and Luis Gustavo suggest the club feel the same.

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Comments

#4 reg 2012-12-17 17:25

We're worried that we are shut of players and Wenger is about to cash in on Sagna. Meaning that we're going to lose two good players as usual every new season or transfer window. It's now obvious that Wenger is confused and he's directly calling the fans that pay so much out their pocket fools.

#3 reg 2012-12-17 17:17

Nothing good has ever come out of anything cheap. Wenger forget cheap players and get quality players for quality result. Take for a example; if you buy cheap cloth from primark and wash it two to three times it starts to fade but buy cloth from LV, HUGO BOSS or GUCCI they'll last very long and give you the needed value. Wenger you're just trowing away money on your cheap players. Check how much you bought them and how much you spend on them both salary and others then tell me if they equal the result you need. The amount you spend on seven to ten half baked players can services four quality players who will give you your needed target and fan can be proud and happy. You and your board have turned Arsenal and Arsenal fans to a joke box. Arsenal fans can't even mention that name Arsenal in public any more and it's very shameful.

#2 montero4relo 2012-12-17 10:27

Arsene wenger should take a walk for Guadiola to come in. its obvious that wenger is complacent and he is beginning to see problems as solutions which is not good for the club and we the fans.

#1 Steve 2012-12-16 19:09

The is obvious pressure on wenger & arsenal board, but if u know wenger & the board very well, u will know that the pressure will not change anything, they never bow to pressures, besides by the time transfer window opens, the pressure won't be much anymore, then we start getting the usual stories we normally get from wenger "we will buy if we get the quality", at d end they won't buy anybody. For GOD's sake, why can't arsenal go for edison cavani, we also need victor wanyama & a tall, fast,strong,technica lly good central defender. Then sell off squillaci,djorou,cha makh,santos,ramsey & asharvin. Its time wenger starts giving coquelin more playing time, he is class,good marker,aggressive,qu ick,hard working & hungry. He should be starting games. We need a real marker in our midfield, arteta is d player that should be sacrificed for wanyama if we get him. I know a lot of people will not want arteta to be sacrificed, but judging from the players we have & tactically speaking, he should be d one to drop on the bench. A player like ramsey should never have been an arsenal player in the first place.

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