Arsenal will host Championship side Burnley in the fourth round of FA cup and will look to sustain the impressive run in the country’s oldest football tournament. Arsenal have lost a part of the effervescence with which they ended an awesome 2015, as they allowed fellow title competitors Leicester City and Manchester City to leapfrog them in the race.
Fortunately, Arsene Wenger reveals good news ahead of the FA Cup tie. He has confirmed that Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky are back in the team, and could feature in the bench, if not start the match.
Nonetheless, Wenger kept a shut-mouth on his strategy- whether to rotate the squad or not, provided they welcome Southampton three days after the FA Cup match.
French midfielder Coquelin has been sidelined due to knee injury he suffered in the loss against West Bromwich Albion on 21 November. Meanwhile Rosicky has not featured this season, due to the injury stuck him while on international duty for Czech Republic.
“Francis is available to play now because he has passed two weeks of full training. Tomas is also available for selection.” Arsene Wenger spoke to the official website.
Wenger also shed light on the recovery of long-term absentees Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, and Santi Cazorla.
“Danny Welbeck is not completely ready but he is not far [off]. He needs a game or two because he’s been out since last April. The Stoke [under-21] game is too soon because he only had one session with the team, and that is too short.” He added.
“Jack and Santi are progressing well but they are at least a few weeks away. But these two apart, it is just about competitiveness and match fitness.”
Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League, and the last Premier League match saw them lose to Chelsea on Sunday night. However, Arsenal are yet to taste a defeat in FA Cup since 2013.