Arsenal injury news: Jack Wilshere still '3-4 weeks away' with Petr Cech to be rested for FA Cup fifth round clash
Laurent Koscielny should start in defence but Gabriel Paulista has been ruled out of the visit of Hull
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Jack Wilshere remains at least 3-4 weeks away from a first-team return as the midfielder continues to recover from the broken leg he suffered at the start of the season.
Wilshere broke his fibula in pre-season and suffered a setback in September when he needed surgery on the hairline fracture in September as the injury was not healing as planned, only for the England international to suffer another fracture that has prevented him from playing a minute of football this season.
Wilshere has returned to training in recent weeks but Wenger is evidently showing caution in his return to action and has admitted that he will not feature in the first team for the rest of this month.
Wenger also confirmed that Gabriel Paulista will not feature in this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Hull City, with the two clubs meeting in the competition for the third consecutive year.
"[Laurent] Koscielny will be available - he has a test today,” Wenger said at a pre-match press conference on Friday morning. “Gabriel is still out, for one more week. Wilshere back in 3-4 weeks.”
He added: “We play them [Hull] every year in the FA Cup. We know them well and they are in a strong position in the Championship.
“We will play a strong side. A normal side.”
However, the “normal side” that Wenger will deploy will no include goalkeeper Petr Cech, with Wenger confirming that he intends to rest the 33-year-old and hand a rare start to No 2 David Ospina.
He also hinted that January signing Mohamed Elneny could be given another start, having made just one appearance for the Gunners so far which came in the fourth round victory over Burnley.
“Elneny has a good chance to play tomorrow,” said Wenger. “He is ready and is fighting for a regular place.”
Goalscoring hero Danny Welbeck could also make his first start for Arsenal in nearly 10 months after heading in the winner against Premier League title rivals Leicester last weekend, capping a triumphant return from injury for the England international.
“I haven’t completely decided yet,” Wenger said on whether the 25-year-old will return to the starting line-up. He added of Wenger’s goal that secured the 2-1 comeback victory over the Foxes: “It was a must win game which we won in the final seconds. There was a lot of joy.”
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