Arsenal injury news: Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud to be assessed, Hector Bellerin returns

Arsene Wenger is keen to check on the two French players' mental state following last week's terror attacks in France

Mark Critchley
Friday 20 November 2015 12:14 GMT
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Arsenal pair Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud
Arsenal pair Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud (Getty Images)

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Arsene Wenger will assess whether Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud will be mentally prepared to play before his side’s clash against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The Arsenal manager is concerned that the pair, who played for France during the international break, may have been emotionally affected by the terror attacks which struck Paris last Friday.

Koscielny, in particular, is a concern, with the 66-year-old manager wary that the defender has been ‘deeply affected’ by the traumatic events of the past week.

Elsewhere, right-back Hector Bellerin has recovered from a groin problem and is available for contention. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey remain sidelined with hamstring injuries and Theo Walcott is not expected to return from his calf muscle strain for ‘one or two weeks’.

Jack Wilsere (calf/shin), Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck (both knee) are longer-term absentees. No Arsenal players are suspended ahead of the game.

Who you start for Arsenal in this weekend’s trip to the Hawthorns? Let us know in the comments…

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