Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team news ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with PSG, giving updates on summer signing Lucas Perez and his compatriot Santi Cazorla.
Lucas Perez suffered ankle ligament damage just over a month ago in the 2-0 EFL Cup win over Reading and the 67-year-old had many positives to speak of concerning the Spaniard’s recovery.
“He’s back in training already, but not with the squad. He’s ahead of schedule, yes,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.
On Perez’s fellow compatriot, Santi Cazorla, Wenger added:
“At the moment I’ve given a little bit up on that, I don’t know how far he is. It looks to me that he’s making progress but as long as a player is not in full-time training with the squad, it’s very difficult to set targets.
“It’s not a big injury that will harm his future but it’s an inflammation at the back of his Achilles and it’s always very difficult on inflammations to give a set time.”
Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott missed training on Tuesday, but both are expected to be ready to face the Ligue 1 club on Wednesday evening, with Wenger stating:
“Basically everybody is recovered from Saturday. We left Walcott and Ramsey on recovery but they should be alright for tomorrow.”
While progression to the knockout stage is already secure for Arsenal, Wenger is keen to defeat Unai Emery’s side and ensure the Gunners top their Champions League group, potentially ensuring an easier opponent in the first knockout round.
“I believe that the two teams have done the job until now,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.
“We have done what was expected and we have done it away from home, now we can finish the job at home. Of course we want to do it. We played a draw there and it’s just down to us to win the game there.
“[Topping the group would mean] that we have done the job until the end in a convincing way. When you play 1-1 away from home and then you play at home it’s a luxury to be qualified after four games.
“Last year we had to battle until the end and this season we could finish the job after five games. That would mean we have done really well.”
Meanwhile, PSG will be without Ivorian full-back Serge Aurier, with the BBC confirming that he has been denied entry to the United Kingdom by Home Office officials, which is believed to have been caused by a conviction Aurier has for assaulting a police officer last year.