Arsenal take on Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday and before the game, Unai Emery has been sweating over the fitness of Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny.
Granit Xhaka has not played a game for the Gunners ever since the international break with what at that point in time had been dubbed as a ‘small injury’.
Xhaka has been recovering from a groin strain since then and right now reports are claiming that there is a 50-50 chance of him playing on Thursday vs Napoli.
Laurent Koscielny missed the previous two games with a bruised foot and after his absence from the Arsenal’s starting XI vs Everton, many believed Emery was preserving him for Thursday.
But speaking after the game, the Arsenal boss claimed Koscielny was not fit enough to start.
Emery told Arsenal.com:
“He was better and it was his idea to play but we spoke with the doctor and we had a doubt over him playing 90 minutes.
“We decided for him not to start, then after we needed him to come on.”
And now the manager has cast even more doubts claiming that both Koscielny and Xhaka might not be fit before Thursday.
“I don’t know. Maybe Laurent could’ve come back to play today but yesterday we knew it wasn’t possible.
“I want to be positive for Thursday but it depends how he’s progressing. Xhaka is the same. They are doubts for Thursday.”
If Koscielny cannot make himself fit then Nacho Monreal will start in defence just like he did vs Everton.
And in the case that Xhaka too is absent then it should be Torreira and Guendouzi who will play in central midfield.
