Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger sat down for his usual pre-match press conference before Arsenal’s crucial FA cup quarter final tie against Everton tomorrow. A week’s rest after their defeat at the hands of Stoke City, a lot have happened across the Emirates. Jack Wilshere has suffered a toe injury which has ruled him out for almost 6 weeks, long term casualties Ramsey and Kallstrom are due to return. Here is what Wenger had to say about the latest happenings:
on the team news…
Apart from Jack, we have a doubt about Koscielny who has come back with a hamstring problem and didn’t play for France. All the other players came back in a good shape.
on the chance of Koscielny playing…
His scan is clear but we will have to test him today.
on Wilshere playing again this season…
Yes [I expect him to]. There are 11 weeks to go, he will be out for six before he can absorb normal training. His injury will not stop him working on fitness so two weeks after [the first six weeks] he should be competitive. That means the maximum for him to be competitive in a game is eight weeks.
“It is a blow for (Wilshere) and for us, from now on we want to get him to recover and come back as quickly as possible and prepare for next season. “ou can only be very down, especially in the first days. He is in a boot and has gone away for a few days to get away from things and think about something else. At some stage it is the player who gives you the indication, you trust always the player. Sometimes you give him a few minutes to tell you how he feels and if he has pain, we cannot make an instant decision with an X-ray, so it is the player who tells you if he can go on or not.”
on the return of Ramsey and Kallstrom…
Aaron Ramsey is one week away. I think the next two games are coming too soon for him but for the weekend after [against Tottenham] he should be available. Kallstrom as well.