Wenger names 18-man squad for Marseille trip

Arsène Wenger has taken the following 18-man squad to Marseille for Wednesday's Champions League game.

Aaron Ramsey returns to the squad but Kieran Gibbs has not travelled.

Wojciech Szczesny
Lukasz Fabianski
Carl Jenkinson
Andre Santos
Per Mertesacker
Laurent Koscielny
Johan Djourou
Tomas Rosicky
Mikel Arteta
Alex Song
Theo Walcott
Gervinho
Yossi Benayoun
Francis Coquelin
Andrey Arshavin
Aaron Ramsey
Robin van Persie
Marouane Chamakh

TEAM NEWS: Djourou as Substitutes, back from injury and international squad.

Carl Jenkinson will make his third start of the Premier League campaign when Sunderland visit Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The 19-year-old takes the place of the injured Bacary Sagna, who has been ruled out for a minimum of three months after suffering a fractured fibula in his right ankle.                                                                                                  Meanwhile Laurent Koscielny returns at the heart of defence after his injury, signalling a return to midfield for utility man Alex Song.
Theo Walcott and Gervinho continue their flanking roles alongside Robin van Persie, with Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky holding fort in the centre of midfield.
Team in full: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Andre Santos, Djourou, Frimpong, Arshavin, Benayoun, Park.

Koscielny and Djourou resume full training.

Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou have this week resumed full training after recovering from their injuries.

The duo had been sidelined with ankle and muscular problems respectively and missed the recent fixtures against Olympiacos and Tottenham.

Following rehab at Arsenal, both players are now away on international duty but did not feature in Friday's Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Koscielny was an unused substitute for Laurent Blanc’s France side,  while Djourou was suspended for Switzerland’s 2-0 defeat at Wales.

The return of Koscielny and Djourou - along with Sebastien Squillaci - will give Arsène Wenger plenty of defensive options

when Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign against Sunderland next weekend.

 

Arsene Wenger’s injury news on Vermaelen, Diaby, Sagna, Djourou, Ramsey and Rosicky

 

If Arsenal want to be title contenders this season they desperately need to get all three points as they host Bolton Wanderers in today’s game at the Emirates Stadium. 

With Manchester United opening an eleven-point gap at the top, the Gunners know that they have to bounce back from last week’s 4-3 defeat at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers with manager Arsene Wenger declaring in Friday’s press conference that he is very positive about the spirit and ability of his players.

Asked about injuries, the Frenchman said that midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey are back in the squad and so is right-back Bacary Sagna, three players who didn’t feature on Tuesday in the Carling Cup.

Wenger concluded by saying that Abou Diaby will be back in training in a month and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen in two weeks with Sebastien Squillaci back for the Tottenham Hotspur game and Yossi Benayoun and Johan Djourou both out with minor muscular problems.

Johan, Captain during victory against Shrewsbury.

Arsenal secured a safe passage to the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

A shock seemed possible for a period in the first half when James Collins nodded the visitors in front after only 17 minutes. However, Arsenal were level just after the half-hour when Kieran Gibbs headed home the first goal of his career and they took control after the break.

The outstanding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crashed home the first goal of his Arsenal career from long range just before the hour and Yossi Benayoun completed the scoring 12 minutes from time.

Shrewsbury did themselves proud but Arsène Wenger’s side cruised home in the end.

They are in the hat for Saturday’s draw.