Arsene Wenger Backs Arshavin To Return Against Fulham
Gunners boss discusses several of Arsenal's injury
casualties
By Jeremy Brown
Arsene Wenger has lots to ponder after his
Arsenal side let it slip against Aston Villa (PA)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has announced that Andrey
Arshavin will be available for Saturday's match against Fulham at Craven
Cottage. The Frenchman also revealed that forward Robin van Persie's selection
will be determined by a late fitness test and that Theo Walcott is back
in training, though he may not be risked on the weekend.
A groin complaint has kept the ?15 million former Zenit St Petersburg
star out of the last couple matches, while van Persie is still shaking
off a knock picked up in midweek.
"We have had Arshavin out [since the international break] and we had a
problem with Van Persie during the week," said Wenger during a pre-match
press conference. "But Arshavin should be back and Van Persie should be
all right too. We have a test tomorrow with him."
The 20-year-old Walcott has been absent since injuring his back in a pre-season
friendly against Valencia on August 8.
"Walcott is now back in normal training," said Wenger.
"He has only played 45 minutes since June so he lacks a little bit of
competition. He was short for the West Brom game [on Tuesday] but he's
available again. He needs match practice.
"I don't know [if he could figure this weekend]. He is still a bit short
because it's the week he's back to full, normal training. But the good
news is that he's available again."
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is still plagued by a chest infection, so either
19-year-old Wojciech Szczesny or 21-year-old Vito Mannone, who gave up
two goals in the opening four minutes in Arsenal's 3-2 Champions League
win over Standard Liege, will line up between the posts.
"Almunia is still short, still a week away," said Wenger. "Normally,
Mannone [would deputise] but we are 48 hours away from the game.
"It's a bit more open than last year at the beginning of the season,
I personally feel. Will that last or not? It gets usually tighter between
the end of October and the end of March because of that moment where the
fear of going down comes in and that usually makes things a bit defensively
tighter."
