Jack Wilshere will also be assessed after missing Tuesday’s loss at Swansea with an illness.
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With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh MKhitaryan also arriving, Wenger is planning on deploying an attack full of quality, having already acquired Alexandre Lacazette in the summer.
The swaggering show from the former Borussia Dortmund team-mates was a much-needed boost for Arsenal boss Wenger after a hard January that saw Alexis Sanchez force through a move to Manchester United, while the north Londoners struggled on the pitch.
Aubameyang trained with his team mates today but has been suffering from a virus this week so the Gabon global isn’t likely to be handed his first start tomorrow.
However, Danny Welbeck is still recovering from a muscle injury so he remains on the sidelines along with Santi Cazorla.
After forging a lethal partnership at Borussia Dortmund, the attacking pair are once again club colleagues following their respective January deals.
“Certainly Mkhitaryan will start”.
“It makes me feel that they are doing so, so well that they are not letting the others come close to that, as simple as that”, said Mourinho when asked how City’s dominance made him feel. The north London club have won just two of their seven games played in 2018 and Wenger admits that the transfer window, despite ending well with the arrival of Aubameyang, did play a part in distracting his squad.
Aubameyang faces a late fitness test but is unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting XI. Defensive problems remain, yet there can no complaints over the state of the Gunners’ frontline.
Arsene Wenger has warned Mesut Ozil that there is an onus on the German midfielder to become a real leader at Arsenal. They have merely replaced who has left.
Everton have played more Premier League matches at the Emirates without winning (11 – W0 D4 L7) than any other club.
“It was a cryptic deal because Giroud went to Chelsea and Batshuayi went to Dortmund”.
There was no official confirmation from Arsenal but Ozil posted a tweet with a picture of him signing photos with the message: “Had a busy day signing things”.
The goals might be moderate in numbers but the amount of assist he has provided during his stay has is unmatchable and cements his status as one of the most creative players in the Premier League.
With Lacazette struggling badly in his first season in England – the former Lyon star has scored only once in his last 12 appearances, it is essential Aubameyang hits the ground running as Arsenal sit eight points adrift of the top four.
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The match kicks off at 17:30 GMT on Saturday, with live television coverage available on BT Sport in the UK.
