Koscielny ruled out of Anderlecht clash
|Laurent Koscielny is expected to sit out tonight’s Champions League clash with Anderlecht but could be fit for Saturday’s away trip at Sunderland.
The defender was ruled out of Saturday’s game against Hull after returning from international duty with France with an achilles injury.
However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that the problem will not go away anytime soon, suggesting that Arsenal are committed to managing the problem rather than curing it.
“We will monitor him and as soon as he can take enough pain again he will play”, said Wenger last week.
“No [he will not need surgery]. We have scanned him, there is no real deterioration of his Achilles at all. It is just the pain of the inflammation.”
French centre-back Koscielny has started in six of Arsenal’s seven Premier League games this season and has been told to rest-up ahead of what is considered a packed November fixture list which includes home matches against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.
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It is a worryingly familiar situation for Arsenal, who have seen key players suffer long-term injuries over the years. Ex-captain Thomas Vermaelen famously sat out almost an entire year with a chronic Achilles problem which eventually did require surgery.
Highly-rated youngster Hector Bellerin will continue at right-back for the game in Belgium, while Calum Chambers will partner Per Mertesacker at the centre of defence.