Arsene Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Sunday’s trip to the Etihad stadium to face Manchester City.
The Gunners are set to be without number one Szczesny according to reports for a number of weeks, meaning Mannone will be Wenger’s first choice keeper for the next couple of matches.
Long term absentees Sagna and Rosicky are closing on their first team training returns, while recovered Wilshere and Frimpong have enjoyed their first full training sessions this week.
Wenger revealed:
[on Emmanuel Frimpong] He is a bit in front of Jack [Wilshere] on match fitness. He has worked a very, very long time and he is ready.
[on Rosicky and Sagna] Sagna is one week away from full training, and Rosicky two.
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[on a possible comeback date] I cannot tell you anything about that. It will take a few weeks. We will see how well he responds in the first two games. He has to play games in the reserve [Under-21] team and see how well he comes out of that. I have to look at the schedule, I first want to give him 10 days training before he plays his first game.
[on Wilshere’s first training session]
It went well, and we will see how he responds to the training now. We will have to be a bit patient and monitor him well. He needs a few games, he has not played for 14 months and needs games in the reserves.
It is a worry that Szczesny will be missing, however Mannone has performed admirably recently in his absence. That is the only bad news really as all the other recoveries are running to plan for Arsenal’s crocked stars.
Wenger will be patient with Wilshere’s recovery, so we can expect him to take part in a U21 match or two before coming back into the first team fold in the coming weeks, and it is encouraging news that Frimpong is closer and will be available in a week or so.
The season is looking promising already, plenty of options in midfield with the all important Bacary Sagna closing on his return. All we need is a big win at the Etihad this weekend, and the Gunners certainly have the potential to do so!
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