Arsenal provide fresh injury update on Sead Kolasinac ahead of Chelsea clash

Arsenal have provided an injury update on defender Sead Kolasinac ahead of the forthcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Bosnia international missed the most recent game for the Gunners against Sheffield United with a thigh strain but it was anticipated that he could return for the midweek London derby.

However, that has not been the case and as per the club’s latest update, the left-back is not expected to return to training until the winter break at the beginning of February.

This would mean that the 26-year-old won’t be available for the games against Chelsea, Bournemouth (FA Cup) and Burnley where Bukayo Saka could continue to feature as the makeshift left-back.

Meanwhile, Reiss Nelson is likewise expected to be on the sidelines for the same period of time after picking up a hamstring niggle in training prior to the Sheffield United game.

Elsewhere, Sokratis is being assessed after the illness which kept him out of action against Sheffield last weekend and he could possibly replace Shkodran Mustafi at the heart of the defence.

Apart from the trio, Calum Chambers and Kieran Tierney are the long-term absentees but the latter has been tipped to return to regular training by the beginning of March.

Arsenal are presently 10 points behind Chelsea, who are currently holding onto the final Champions League spot and manager Mikel Arteta has already stated that the game is a must-win to make a realistic push for the top four.

For this, Arteta would need to guide the Gunners to their first win at Stamford Bridge since the 2011/12 campaign. The club have failed to beat any of the so-called big-six on the road since the 2-0 triumph at Manchester City more than five years ago.