Arsenal’s season begins at at Wembley this time around as the FA Cup champions face League champions Manchester City in the traditional community shield match.
Here are the latest updates on the team:
As you would know, Arsenal’s German trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski are yet to return from their vacation and will miss the match, while long term absentee Theo Walcott, who is training with the first team will remain on sidelines and would have to wait till late August or early September to get into contention for first team.
“Theo Walcott is planned to come back into my group on August 31, beginning of September latest. He’s doing well but he’s not completely ready. I would say end of August.”, says Wenger.
However, it is the news about Abou Diaby that is a worrying sign for the Gooners. The French International who returned from his year long injury and made an appearance against conference side Boreham Wood has picked up a hip injury and will miss this the community shield.
According to French Newspaper, L’Equipe Diaby felt a pain in his back during the game against New York Red Bulls, and that said pain has developed into a swollen tendon on his left hip. Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud might start from the bench after his lack luster performance in the Emirates cup as he is yet to gain his full fitness.
The likes of Alexis Sanchez, Joel Campbell, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers have looked solid and are in contention for the starting berth.
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