SOUTHAMPTON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal will check on the fitness of midfielder Jack Wilshere before the English Premier League clash with Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday.
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Premier League
Tuesday, January 28, 2:45 PM ET
St. Mary’s Stadium
Wilshere is doubtful for the game with an ankle problem he picked up during the FA Cup win over Coventry last Friday.
“We have a doubt about Jack Wilshere, who had an ankle problem during the game against Coventry,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on www.arsenal.com.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta (calf) and defender Thomas Vermaelen (knee) have returned to normal training, while Aaron Ramsey (thigh) is also back in training.
All three should make the squad, but are not expected to be in the starting line-up.
“We have players back normally in the squad – Vermaelen and Arteta. They should be back and available but we might from our last game lose Jack for tomorrow’s game.
First choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will return after he was rested for the FA Cup win against Coventry, while striker Olivier Giroud is set to be back in the starting team after being a substitute in the last game.
For Southampton, midfielder Victor Wanyama is set to return from a lengthy lay-off due to a leg injury, while forward Rickie Lambert is doubtful with a hamstring problem and fellow attacker Dani Osvaldo is out due to a club suspension.
Arsenal will be hoping to strike three points as they look to hold off the serious challenges from Manchester City and Chelsea, who are just one and two points, respectively behind the Gunners.
Teams
Southampton (from): Boruc, K Davis, Gazzaniga, Clyne, Chambers, Shaw, Fox, Hooiveld, Fonte, Yoshida, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Cork, Lallana, Isgrove, Ward-Prowse, Do Prado, S Davis, Reed, Rodriguez, Gallagher, Lambert.
Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Fabianski, Mertesacker, Sagna, Monreal, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gnabry, Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud, Bendtner.
