Arsenal travel to Turf Moor for an interesting away test against Burnley on Sunday. And while Arsene Wenger has a fully rested starting eleven available to him, the manager has confirmed that Danny Welbeck being brought off early against Koln during the midweek was just a precautionary measure and that the Englishman is available for the game.
The manager elaborated in the pre-match conference, on his choice to bring Welbeck off, stating that he wanted to be a bit more patient with the player, who had earlier had a recurrence of his hamstring when played straight off after returning from injury.
“The last time he came back from injury, we played him at Watford and after an hour he got a bad hamstring. This time I didn’t want to take that gamble. I wanted to be a bit more progressive with him. Almost certainly, nothing would have happened but I felt it was more sensible to do it. He’s fine. He’s completely fine.”
Wenger also gave updates on Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott, both of whom remain unavailable to the manager. Walcott though, is back in training and is likely to be fit in a couple of matchdays.
“For the weekend, no [Theo is not available]. He’s back in training now, so he should be okay for next week. He has been ill. I hope to see him [Cazorla] soon, that he comes over to give an update.”
Arsene Wenger is expected to pick almost an identical playing eleven to the one that won 2-0 at Emirates against Tottenham, with all the players that started in the 2-0 win given a rest during the midweek.
The manager though, did highlight that all the players that featured in the midweek tie against Koln are in contention for a place in the starting lineup on Sunday – positive news for fans who wish to see Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck or some other player making the eleven at Turf Moor.